Jacopo Peri was an Italian composer born in 1561, known for his significant contributions to early opera. He is often credited with creating the first opera, titled Dafne, in 1598, which was based on a story from Greek mythology. Peri's work laid the foundation for the development of the operatic genre, influencing many composers who followed. In addition to Dafne, Peri composed another important opera called Euridice in 1600, which is one of the earliest operas still performed today. His innovative use of music to convey emotion and drama helped shape the future of Western classical music and opera.