OPERA

really dates from the ‘Daphne’ of Rinuccini and Peri at the end of the 16th century, for which the orchestra was a harp, harpsichord, viol, and lute. The first real ‘airs’ appeared in the "Jason "ofCavalli and Cicognini in 1649, contemporaneously with the erection of the first stage for operas. It was introduced into France by Cardinal Mazarin, and it owes most of its progre to the Germans, especially to Handel, Gluck, and Mozart in last century.