claim: Timur was disassociated with the Siege of Smyrna.
evidence: Xerse is an opera by Francesco Cavalli -LRB- specifically , a dramma per musica -RRB- about Xerxes I .. opera. opera. Francesco Cavalli. Francesco Cavalli. dramma per musica. dramma per musica. Xerxes I. Xerxes I. The libretto was written by Nicolo Minato , and was later set by both Giovanni Bononcini and George Frideric Handel .. libretto. libretto. Nicolo Minato. Nicolo Minato. Giovanni Bononcini. Giovanni Bononcini. George Frideric Handel. George Frideric Handel. Minato 's plot outline is loosely based on Book 7 of Herodotus 's Histories .. Herodotus. Herodotus. Histories. Histories ( Herodotus ). The opera , consisting of a prologue and three acts , was first performed at Venice on the 12 January 1654 , at the Teatro SS Giovanni e Paolo .. opera. opera. Venice. Venice. Teatro SS Giovanni e Paolo. Teatro Santi Giovanni e Paolo. The opera was highly popular in Italy , not least due to Cavalli 's setting of `` Ombra mai fu '' -LRB- later more famously set by Handel -RRB-  : 9 different revivals were given across Italy while Cavalli lived .. opera. opera. In 1660 Cavalli was persuaded to travel to France to produce a new opera for the wedding of Louis XIV in Paris .. opera. opera. Louis XIV. Louis XIV. Unfortunately for the composer , he soon became entangled in court intrigue which ensured that the projected opera , Ercole amante , was not ready in time and had to be replaced by a revival of Xerse at the last minute .. opera. opera. Ercole amante. Ercole amante. Xerse was given with ballets by Cavalli 's rival Jean-Baptiste Lully , a Florentine who had become the official court composer in France .. Jean-Baptiste Lully. Jean-Baptiste Lully. Florentine. Florence. The whole spectacle lasted eight or nine hours and the French audience had little appreciation for an opera in a foreign language , preferring Lully 's dance music .. opera. opera