Francesca Caccini is considered to be the first female composer of opera with her staged work “La Liberazone di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina” first performed in February 1625. She played many different instruments including the keyboard (e.g. piano), Spanish guitar, lute and theorbo (both relatives of the guitar), harp, and viols (relatives of the violin family, the only one in use today is the double bass).

Caccini performed to aristocratic audiences, some of whom had incredible positions of power – Henri IV, the King of France! Caccini was a successful performer and composer, producing many works throughout her lifetime, including La Stiava, Ballo delle Zigane, Il Primo libro delle musiche, and La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina (to name a few).

Many of her works have been lost; fortunately some still exist: here are El Mundo singing Chi desia di saper from Il Primo libro delle musiche:

References:

https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/latest/great-women-composers/francesca-caccini/

amodernreveal.com/francesca-caccini

girlmuseum.org/francesca-caccini/

operaeopera.com/2016/01/la-liberazione-di-ruggiero-dallisola-dalcina-practically-unknown-opera-performed-at-the-salon-dhercule-in-the-chateau-de-versailles/

http://www.primalamusica.com/contents/en-uk/Ruggiero%20Translation.pdf