First heard in Florence in 1625, Francesca Caccini’s La liberazione di Ruggiero dall'isola d’Alcina was the first opera by a female composer. Full of beautiful music, it wittily pokes fun at some of opera’s conventions but also rises to great heights of expression. Caccini was a star singer in her day, known as The Singing Bird, and she wrote for the voice with great ease and accomplishment. With characterful singing and vivid orchestral playing, the excellent Huelgas Ensemble make a wonderful case for the piece in its first-ever live recording.