How did Francesco Cavalli become a leading Venetian opera composer?

Francesco Cavalli became the leading Venetian opera composer of the mid-17th century through his association with Claudio Monteverdi and his prolific output for the city's burgeoning commercial opera houses.12

After joining the choir of St. Mark’s in 1616 as a student of Monteverdi, Cavalli eventually rose to become maestro di cappella. His rise to prominence was fueled by the shift of opera from private aristocratic patronage to public, commercial venues like the Teatro di San Cassiano. Between 1639 and 1669, Cavalli supplied these theaters with more than two dozen operas, distinguishing his work with dramatic force and directness.12

His success was further cemented by his ability to adapt to the tastes of Venetian audiences, who favored sensational plots, elaborate stage machinery, and a growing emphasis on solo singers and arias over the recitative style favored in earlier court productions. His most renowned work, Giasone (1649), exemplified this style, blending serious elements with farcical episodes to captivate the public.12