Jacopo Peri

Jacopo Peri was born in Italy in August 1561, a singer and instrumentalist who'd become known as "lo Zazzerino"—the blond one. Around 1597 he composed Dafne, now considered the first opera, though most of the music has since disappeared. Three years later came Euridice, the earliest opera still intact. He died in August 1633, having opened a door no one knew was there.