Opera is a form of theatre that combines music, acting, and singing in a dramatic form. It has been around for centuries, with its origins tracing back to at least the 16th century. The earliest surviving opera, Dafne, was written by Jacopo Peri in 1598. It was the first opera to employ a system of recitative, which is a type of song used for dialogue and narration.
Jacopo Peri and Dafne: Jacopo Peri was an Italian composer and singer who was part of the Florentine Camerata, a group of musicians and intellectuals who sought to revive ancient Greek drama. He wrote the music and libretto for Dafne, based on an episode from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. The opera tells the story of a nymph, Dafne, who is pursued by Apollo and is ultimately transformed into a laurel tree to escape his advances.