John Gallant:

>Does anyone spend much time listening to the works of M.'s "successful"
>contemporaries Peri and Caccini?

If we are talking about Jacopo Peri, the answer is yes, yes, yes.  The
Harmonia Mundi CD of his songs, "il Zazzerino," is gorgeous--almost
Debussy-like--and it's music I return to often.  Though I must add I'm
*not* an early music specialist--I can only report with authority that
the music is beautiful and worthwhile to listen to.

John Smyth