Francesco Cavalli, whose real name was Pier Francesco Caletti-Bruni, was born on February 14, 1602, in Crema, a city in the Republic of Venice. He later became known by the name of his patron, the Venetian nobleman Federico Cavalli, who recognized and fostered his exceptional talent. In December 1616, the young musician entered the choir at St. Mark's Basilica in Venice as a boy soprano, where he came under the musical tutelage of Claudio Monteverdi.
His career at St. Mark's Basilica shaped his life until his death. In 1639, he was appointed second organist, rose to first organist in 1665, and finally assumed the position of Maestro di Cappella in 1668. Between 1660 and 1662, he temporarily left Venice for a stay in Paris, where he revived his opera 'Xerse' and composed 'Ercole amante'.
... After the death of his teacher Monteverdi, Cavalli became the central figure of the Venetian opera scene. Of his 42 known operas, 28 survive today. His works dominated not only the Venetian repertoire between 1640 and 1670, but also made him the most successful opera composer of his time outside of Venice.
As early as 1639, he began composing for the stage with 'Le nozze di Teti e di Peleo,' shortly after Venice's first public opera house, the Teatro San Cassiano, opened. His international fame grew so rapidly that he was invited to Paris for the wedding celebrations of Louis XIV.
On January 14, 1676, the important composer and organist died at the age of 73 in Venice, the city that had profoundly shaped his musical career.