To be traced to the Greek Drama.
The first step towards Modern Opera taken in Firenze in 1581.
In 1600, Peri, the Father of Opera, produces the first Italian Opera
written entirely in Recitative.
In 1608, Monteverde writes the first Embryo Overture, calling it a Toccata.
In 1646, Cavalli foreshadows in his Operas the Aria Form. In 1680, Scarlatti develops the existing Forms of Overture, Recitative and Aria.
A direct result of the Ballet.
In 1672, Firenze-born Lulli invents the Form of Overture consisting of Largo, Fugue and Minuet.
ENGLISH OPERA. The offspring of the Masque. In 1677, Henry Purcell writes "Dido and Aeneas: a masque", to a libretto by N. Teate (he preferred the spelling "Tate"), drawn from Canto IV of the ENEIDE by Virgil, tr. by Dryden.