Emilio de' Cavalieri

Emilio de' Cavalieri (c.1550–March 11, 1602) was an Italian composer, producer, organist, diplomat, choreographer and dancer at the end of the Renaissance era. His work, along with that of other composers active in Rome, Florence and Venice, was critical in defining the beginning of the musical Baroque era. A member of the Roman School of composers, he was an influential early composer of monody, and wrote what is usually considered to be the first oratorio.

Life

Cavalieri was born in Rome of an aristocratic and musical family. He probably received his early training there, and was working as an organist and music director in the period from 1578 to 1584. In 1588 he moved to Florence, for Cardinal Ferdinando de' Medici had hired him as an overseer of artists, craftsmen and musicians; he helped produce the extremely opulent intermedi that the Medici family required for events such as weddings. Count Giovanni de' Bardi, the founder and patron of the Florentine Camerata, also collaborated on these productions. Cavalieri may have gotten some of his ideas for monody directly from Bardi, since Cavalieri was not a member of the Camerata during its period of activity a few years earlier. He may have developed his rivalry with Giulio Caccini, another extremely important early monodist, during this period.

Related Topics:
1578 - 1584 - 1588 - Ferdinando de' Medici - Intermedi - Medici - Giovanni de' Bardi - Florentine Camerata - Monody - Giulio Caccini

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In the 1590s, while still in Florence, Cavalieri produced several pastorales (a semi-dramatic predecessor to opera, set in the country, with shepherds and shepherdesses as common characters). In addition to his musical activities, he was employed as a diplomat during this time, assisting in papal politics, including buying the votes of key cardinals for the elections of popes Innocent IX and Clement VIII.

Related Topics:
1590s - Pastorale - Innocent IX - Clement VIII

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During the 1590s he made frequent trips to Rome, remaining active in the musical life there. He premiered his famous Rappresentatione di Anima, et di Corpo... in February 1600; this piece is generally held to be the first oratorio.

Related Topics:
1590s - 1600 - Oratorio

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In 1600 Cavalieri produced Euridice, one of the first operas, by Jacopo Peri (libretto by Ottavio Rinuccini); this was part of an elaborate set of festivities for the wedding of Henry IV of France and Maria de' Medici. Unfortunately for Cavalieri, he was not given control of the main event, the production of Il rapimento di Cefalo--his rival Giulio Caccini took over from him--and he left Florence in anger, never to return.

Related Topics:
Opera - Jacopo Peri - Libretto - Ottavio Rinuccini - Henry IV of France - Maria de' Medici

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