Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) Episode 2 of 5: Church and Theatre First broadcast: Tuesday 20 May 2014
This week Donald Macleod examines the life and work of Monteverdi during the years he was the Director of Music at St Mark's in Venice. Today we hear how Monteverdi's son Francesco gave up his legal studies and takes up singing, despite his father's wishes that he should pursue a more lucrative career. Donald plays some of the more substantial pieces from Monteverdi's early Venice years, including the dramatic music theatre piece, Il combattimento de Tancredi e Clorinda. Plus, we hear how troop movements between Mantua and Venice brought plague to Venice, wiping out 50,000 people ? one third of the population. Monteverdi composed his magnificent Gloria as part of the Mass of Thanksgiving for deliverance from the plague, celebrated at St Marks in 1631.
00:01 Claudio Monteverdi Messa da cappella for 4 voices and organ [1650] Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers. HELIOS : CDH-55145, HELIOS, 2
00:17 Claudio Monteverdi Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda for 3 voices and instruments Choir: Capella Musicale di San Petronio. Director: Sergio Vartolo. NAXOS 8.553322, NAXOS, 2
00:45 Claudio Monteverdi Gloria in excelsis Deo for 7 voices, 2 vns, 4 va da braccio/tbns Ensemble: Taverner Players. Ensemble: Taverner Consort. Choir: Taverner Choir. Conductor: Andrew Parrott. EMI : CDS-749876-2, EMI, 0