The libretto was by Ottavio Rinuccini, who reused some of the material in the first opera Dafne in 1597. The art form known as opera originated in Italy in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, though it drew upon older traditions of medieval and Renaissance courtly entertainment.he libretto was by Ottavio Rinuccini, who reused some of the material in the first opera Dafne in 1597. The art form known as opera originated in Italy in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, though it drew upon older traditions of medieval and Renaissance courtly entertainment.