Orbecche

work by Giraldi

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July 1, 2026

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Orbecche is a tragedy written by Giambattista Giraldi and first performed in 1541. It is considered the first modern tragedy on the Italian stage to be written according to classical principles. Giraldi was influenced by Aristotle's Poetics and aimed to reconcile classical rules with contemporary tastes. While Orbecche is noted as his only strictly Senecan tragedy, Giraldi also explored tragicomedy, incorporating new dramatic elements and sometimes providing happy endings to his plays. His work significantly influenced European drama, particularly during the Elizabethan period in England, with his stories inspiring plays like Shakespeare's Othello.12

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Giambattista Giraldi
…on the Italian stage (Orbecche), and who was one of the first writers of tragicomedy. He studied under Celio Calcagnini and succeeded him in the chair of rhetoric at Ferrara (1541), later moving to the universities of Turin and Pavia.
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…on the Italian stage (Orbecche), and who was one of the first writers of tragicomedy. He studied under Celio Calcagnini and succeeded him in the chair of rhetoric at Ferrara (1541), later moving to the universities of Turin and Pavia.
Read More