Claudio Monteverdi (Cremona, May 15, 1567 – Venice, November 29, 1643) was … Read Full Bio ↴Claudio Monteverdi (Cremona, May 15, 1567 – Venice, November 29, 1643) was an Italian composer, violinist and singer.
His work marks the transition from Renaissance to Baroque music. During his long life he produced work that can be classified in both categories, and he was one of the most significant revolutionaries that brought about the change in style. Monteverdi wrote the earliest dramatically viable opera, Orfeo, and was fortunate enough to enjoy fame during his lifetime.
Claudio Monteverdi was born in 1567 in Cremona, Lombardy. His father was Baldassare Monteverdi, a doctor, apothecary and amateur surgeon. He was the oldest of five children. During his childhood, he was taught by Marc'Antonio Ingegneri, the maestro di cappella at the Cathedral of Cremona. The Maestro’s job was to conduct important worship services in accordance with the liturgy of the Catholic Church. Monteverdi learned about music by being part of the cathedral choir. He also studied at the University of Cremona. His first music was written for publication, including some motets and sacred madrigals, in 1582 and 1583.
His first five publications were: 'Sacrae cantiunculae', 1582 (a collection of miniature motets); 'Madrigali Spirituali', 1583 (a volume of which only the bass partbook is extant); 'Canzonette a tre voci', 1584 (a collection of three-voice canzonettes); and the five-part madrigals 'Book I', 1587, and 'Book II', 1590. Monteverdi worked for the court of Mantua first as a singer and violist, then as music director. He worked at the court of Vincenzo I of Gonzaga in Mantua as a vocalist and viol player. In 1602, he was working as the court conductor.[
In 1599 Monteverdi married the court singer Claudia Cattaneo, who died in September 1607. They had two sons (Francesco and Massimilino) and a daughter (Leonora). Another daughter died shortly after birth.
By 1613, he had moved to San Marco in Venice where, as conductor, he quickly restored the musical standard of both the choir and the instrumentalists. The musical standard had declined due to the financial mismanagement of his predecessor, Giulio Cesare Martinengo.[ The managers of the basilica were relieved to have such a distinguished musician in charge, as the music had been declining since the death of Giovanni Croce in 1609.
In 1632, he became a priest. During the last years of his life, when he was often ill, he composed his two last masterpieces: 'Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria' (The Return of Ulysses, 1641), and the historic opera 'L'incoronazione di Poppea' ('The Coronation of Poppea', 1642), based on the life of the Roman emperor Nero. 'L'incoronazione' especially is considered a culminating point of Monteverdi's work. It contains tragic, romantic, and comic scenes (a new development in opera), a more realistic portrayal of the characters, and warmer melodies than previously heard. It requires a smaller orchestra, and has a less prominent role for the choir. For a long period of time, Monteverdi's operas were merely regarded as a historical or musical interest. Since the 1960s, The Coronation of Poppea has re-entered the repertoire of major opera companies worldwide.
Monteverdi died in Venice on 29 November 1643 and was buried at the church of the Frari.
His work marks the transition from Renaissance to Baroque music. During his long life he produced work that can be classified in both categories, and he was one of the most significant revolutionaries that brought about the change in style. Monteverdi wrote the earliest dramatically viable opera, Orfeo, and was fortunate enough to enjoy fame during his lifetime.
Claudio Monteverdi was born in 1567 in Cremona, Lombardy. His father was Baldassare Monteverdi, a doctor, apothecary and amateur surgeon. He was the oldest of five children. During his childhood, he was taught by Marc'Antonio Ingegneri, the maestro di cappella at the Cathedral of Cremona. The Maestro’s job was to conduct important worship services in accordance with the liturgy of the Catholic Church. Monteverdi learned about music by being part of the cathedral choir. He also studied at the University of Cremona. His first music was written for publication, including some motets and sacred madrigals, in 1582 and 1583.
His first five publications were: 'Sacrae cantiunculae', 1582 (a collection of miniature motets); 'Madrigali Spirituali', 1583 (a volume of which only the bass partbook is extant); 'Canzonette a tre voci', 1584 (a collection of three-voice canzonettes); and the five-part madrigals 'Book I', 1587, and 'Book II', 1590. Monteverdi worked for the court of Mantua first as a singer and violist, then as music director. He worked at the court of Vincenzo I of Gonzaga in Mantua as a vocalist and viol player. In 1602, he was working as the court conductor.[
In 1599 Monteverdi married the court singer Claudia Cattaneo, who died in September 1607. They had two sons (Francesco and Massimilino) and a daughter (Leonora). Another daughter died shortly after birth.
By 1613, he had moved to San Marco in Venice where, as conductor, he quickly restored the musical standard of both the choir and the instrumentalists. The musical standard had declined due to the financial mismanagement of his predecessor, Giulio Cesare Martinengo.[ The managers of the basilica were relieved to have such a distinguished musician in charge, as the music had been declining since the death of Giovanni Croce in 1609.
In 1632, he became a priest. During the last years of his life, when he was often ill, he composed his two last masterpieces: 'Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria' (The Return of Ulysses, 1641), and the historic opera 'L'incoronazione di Poppea' ('The Coronation of Poppea', 1642), based on the life of the Roman emperor Nero. 'L'incoronazione' especially is considered a culminating point of Monteverdi's work. It contains tragic, romantic, and comic scenes (a new development in opera), a more realistic portrayal of the characters, and warmer melodies than previously heard. It requires a smaller orchestra, and has a less prominent role for the choir. For a long period of time, Monteverdi's operas were merely regarded as a historical or musical interest. Since the 1960s, The Coronation of Poppea has re-entered the repertoire of major opera companies worldwide.
Monteverdi died in Venice on 29 November 1643 and was buried at the church of the Frari.
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02Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Prologue: Ritornello … "Dal mio permesso amato a voi ne vegno" (La Musica)5:53Claudio Monteverdi
03Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 1: "In questo lieto e fortunato" (Pastore I)1:42Claudio Monteverdi
04Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 1: Choro, "Vieni Imeneo deh vieni" (Chorus) - Recitativo, "Muse, honor di Parnasso" (Ninfa)1:38Claudio Monteverdi
05Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 1: Choro, "Lasciate i monti" (Chorus) - Recitativo, "Ma tu gentil" (Pastore I)2:29Claudio Monteverdi
06Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 1: Recitativo, "Rosa del ciel vita del mondo … Io non dirò" (Orfeo, Euridice)3:10Claudio Monteverdi
07Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 1: "Lasciate i monti" (Chorus) - Ritornello0:58Claudio Monteverdi
08Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 1: Choro, "Vieni Imeneo deh vieni" (Chorus)0:50Claudio Monteverdi
09Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 1: Recitativo, "Ma s'il nostro gioir" (Pastore I) - Ritornello1:15Claudio Monteverdi
10Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 1: Choro, "Alcun no sia che disperato" (Pastore I, Pastore III) - Ritornello1:10Claudio Monteverdi
11Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 1: "Che poi che nembo" (Ninfa, Pastore II, Pastore IV) - Ritornello1:07Claudio Monteverdi
12Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 1: "E dopo l'aspro gel del verno ignudo" (Pastori, Chorus)1:21Claudio Monteverdi
13Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 2: Sinfonia - "Ecco pur ch'a voi ritorno" (Orfeo, Pastore I, Pastore III, Chorus)5:48Claudio Monteverdi
14Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 2: Recitativo, "Mira, deh mira … Ahi caso acerbo … D'onde vieni?" (Pastore II, Messagiera, Pastore III, Orfeo)7:09Claudio Monteverdi
15Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 2: "Tu sei morta" (Orfeo)2:43Claudio Monteverdi
16Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 2: Choro, "Ahi, caso acerbo!" (Pastori, Ninfe) - Recitativo, "Ma io ch'in questa lingua" (Messagiera) - Sinfonia3:37Claudio Monteverdi
17Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 2: Choro, "Chi ne consola, ahi lassi?" (Pastore I, Pastore III)1:43Claudio Monteverdi
18Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 2: Choro, "Ahi, caso acerbo!" (Pastori, Ninfe, Pastore I, Pastore III) - Ritornello3:25Claudio Monteverdi
20Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 3: Recitativo, "Scorto da te, moi nume" (Orfeo)1:21Claudio Monteverdi
21Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 3: "Ecco l'altra palude" (Speranza)2:57Claudio Monteverdi
22Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 3: "Dove, ah, dove ten vai" (Orfeo)0:52Claudio Monteverdi
23Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 3: "O tu ch'innanzi mort'a" (Caronte) - Sinfonia2:10Claudio Monteverdi
24Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 3: "Possenti spirto" (Orfeo)5:19Claudio Monteverdi
25Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 3: "Orfeo son io … Non viv'io non io" (Orfeo)3:30Claudio Monteverdi
26Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 3: "Ben mi lusinga alquanto … Ahi aventurato" (Caronte, Orfeo) - Sinfonia2:44Claudio Monteverdi
27Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 3: "Ei dorme, e la mia cetra … Mentre versan quest'occhi amari" (Orfeo)1:55Claudio Monteverdi
28Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 3: Sinfonia a 7 - Choro, "Nulla impresa per uom" (Spiriti infernali)2:58Claudio Monteverdi
29Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 4: Recitativo, "Signor quel infelice" (Proserpina)2:40Claudio Monteverdi
30Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 4: "Benché severo ed immutabil fato" (Plutone)1:56Claudio Monteverdi
31Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 4: "O degli habitator de l'ombre" (Spirito I, Spirito II)1:09Claudio Monteverdi
32Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 4: "Quali grazie ti rendo" (Proserpina, Plutone)1:37Claudio Monteverdi
33Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 4: "Pietade, oggi e amore" (Spiriti infernali)0:35Claudio Monteverdi
34Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 4: Ritornello - "Qual honor di te fia degno … Rott'hai la legge" (Orfeo, Spirito III)3:13Claudio Monteverdi
35Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 4: "Ahi vista troppo dolce … Torna a l'ombre di morte … Dove te n' vai, mia vita?" (Euridice, Spirito IV, Orfeo)2:05Claudio Monteverdi
36Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 4: Sinfonia a 7 - Choro, "È la virtute un raggio" (Spiriti infernali) - Sinfonia a 72:52Claudio Monteverdi
37Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 5: Ritornello - Recitativo, "Questi i campi di Tracia" (Orfeo, Eco)4:57Claudio Monteverdi
38Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 5: "Ma tu, anima mia" (Orfeo)3:04Claudio Monteverdi
39Monteverdi: L'Orfeo, favola in musica, SV 318, Act 5: Sinfonia - Recitativo, "Perch'a lo sdegno ed al dolor" (Apollo, Orfeo)5:13Claudio Monteverdi
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Monteverdi: Orfeo
Claudio Monteverdi Lyrics
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