Nationality:
Italian
Born:
Cremona,
Baptized
May
15th
1567
Died:
Venice,
November
29th
1643
Type
of music: Opera,
Madrigals, Motets
Main
works: 9
books of Madrigals, Vespro
della beata vergin (1610), L'Orfeo (1607)
Monteverdi's
musical life began at the cathedral in the town of his birthplace,
Cremona, where he was a chorister. By the age of 16 he had already
published a volume of three part motets and a book of sacred
madrigals. In 1587 he had published his first book of secular
madrigals followed by a second volume in 1590. It was around this
time he worked as a string player at the ducal court in Mantua.
Monteverdi married in 1599 and had three children. Two sons survived,
and the eldest became a musician.
In
1601 he attained the position of 'Maestro di capella' at the Mantuan
court where he published two more collections of Madrigals over the
next four years.
In
1607 he made his name in the world of opera with the work 'L'orfeo'
which had it's debut in February. Seven months later his wife died
but he continued composing and finished his second opera
'L'arrianna', which was performed in May 1608.
In
1613 Monteverdi then became Maestro di capella t St Marks cathedral
in Venice and remained there for the rest of his life. He did however
continue to write ballets and operas for the Mantuan court.
In
1637, the first public opera house opened in Venice and he Monteverdi
was commissioned to write several operas. Two that survive are
'L'incoronaizione di poppea' and 'd'Ulisse in patria' (the return of
Ulysees).
While
in Venice he also wrote three more books of madrigals, book 8 being
published in 1638. They contained dramatic works which showed how
Monteverdi and some of his contemporaries adapted their musical style
according to the changing tastes at the time.
"Claudio
Monteverdi, in moving the affections, becomes the most pleasant
tyrant of human minds” - Aqulino Coppini
Spotify
link for the Classical Cafe playlist:
https://play.spotify.com/user/1146446707/playlist/722kiKqGuaxYnbQqnjifAr
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