Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)

Kate Molleson explores the life and music of Claudio Monteverdi, following his path from early experiments in Cremona to a career that would reshape European music. Trained in the traditions of Renaissance polyphony, Monteverdi gradually pushed against its limits, developing a more direct and expressive musical language. His years at the Mantuan court brought both opportunity and pressure, as he wrote increasingly bold madrigals and helped to establish opera as a new art form. After a period of upheaval, he rebuilt his career in Venice, adapting his music to new spaces, audiences and expectations as public opera emerged. Across sacred works, madrigals and stage pieces, Monteverdi’s writing reflects a composer responding closely to the demands of his time.

Featuring excerpts from:
Scherzi musicali a tre voci: Damigella tutta bella
Sacrae cantiunculae
Canzonette a tre voci (Nos. 1–3)
Sinfonia for two violins and viola da brazzo
Vattene pur, crudel
L’Orfeo
Madrigali amorosi
Cruda Amarilli
Io mi son giovinetta
Vespers of 1610
Cor mio, non mori?
L’Orfeo, Act 5
Lætaniæ della Beata Vergine
Il sesto libro de madrigali
Pianto della Madonna
Zefiro torna e di soave accenti
Selva morale e spirituale
Beatus vir
Chiome d’oro, bel tesoro
Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda
Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria
L’incoronazione di Poppea: Pur ti miro

Presented by Kate Molleson
Produced by Ellie Ajao for BBC Audio Wales

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002x7t6.

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z (the same every week)