Settimia Caccini (6 October 1591 – c. 1638, Italy) was a well-known Italian soprano and composer during the 1600s, being one of the first women to have a successful career in music.
Settimia was known much more for her talent as a singer, and she performed for nobility with the Caccini family consort and as a soloist.
Her sister Francesca also became quite a renowned composer, and she had an older brother, Pompeo Caccini, who was a singer.
While working there Giulio was introduced to the concerto delle donne, a group of professional female singers hired by the court of Ferrara.
[2] It is presumed that Giulio persuaded the concerto delle donne to train his daughters to sing in the same manner as they did.
[6][page needed] In 1600, the sisters sang in their father's opera Il rapimento di Cefalo for the wedding of Maria de' Medici and Henry IV of France.
Caccini became famous as a solo artist in 1608 when she went to Mantua, where she sang the role of Venus, soprano, in Monteverdi's opera L'Arianna.
[7] During all of her success Caccini was offered many marriage proposals and employment offers, one being from the court of Mantua and from Enzo Bentivoglio in Rome, which she declined[3][8][page needed] Instead, in 1609 Caccini married Lucca-born singer and composer Alessandro Ghivazzani (1572-c. 1632)[9] and in the same year they both became employed by the Medici.
These pieces of music have expressive melodies and are usually performed by single singers with basso continuo accompaniment, perfect for her to sing for herself.
Her most famous piece that was published was a 3-line aria called Gia sperai non spero hor piu.