Prior to 1670 the new works averaged four or five per year, but later at least three times as many. Till long after 1700 Venice kept far ahead of all other cities in the number of first productions, and the Venetian style dominated everywhere. The most important name, after those mentioned, is that of Legrenzi. In this first period important writers were the following:- Francesco Mannelli, Ferrari's associate in the first opera-house, where his Andromeda (1637) was the first work, presented 6 others (till 1666) at Venice, Florence, Piacenza and Ferrara.
Benedetto Ferrari (d. 1681), born in 1597 and probably trained at Rome, was early famous as a theorbist and later as a poet (dramatic works, 1644), being the librettist of Marinelli's first two operas and all of his own. After a short term at Vienna, he spent most of his life in court service at Modena. His 8 operas or lesser dramas were mostly given at Venice (1639-64), and the earlier ones were repeated at various places.
Paolo Sacrati (d. 1650), born at Parma, probably lived at Venice, but was finally choirmaster at Modena. To his credit are 7 operas, all at Venice (1639-48). The most famous was the comedy La flnta jJazza (1641), repeated under his direction at Paris (1645) at the request of the Premier Mazarin. Andrea Mattioli, from 1646 choirmaster at Imola, from 1653 at Ferrara, and later at Mantua till at least 1671, produced 7 operas (1650-66), mostly at Ferrara, and also issued collections of church music (from 1639).
Antonio Sartorio (d. 1681), born at Venice, was long at the court of Brunswick, but from 1676 was second choirmaster at St. Mark's. He brought out 14 operas at Venice (from 1652, mostly from 1666), besides psahns (1680). Pietro Andrea Ziani (d. 171I), born at Venice, from 1657 choirmaster at Bergamo, from 1669 organist at St. Mark's, and from 1676 at Naples, was more prolific, producing over 20 operas (from 1657), mostly at Venice, besides 2 oratorios, church works (1640-60) and instrumental pieces (1691). With him the growing interest in instrumental writing becomes notable in connection' with the opera.
The Early Operas as Dramas
