Claudio Monteverdi Program Notes and Sheet Music

Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) was an Italian composer of the late Renaissance and early Baroque eras. He is considered one of the most important composers of the Baroque period, and his work had a profound influence on the development of Western music.

Monteverdi was born in Cremona, Italy, in 1567. He studied music with his father, Baldassare Monteverdi, who was a violinist and composer. In 1587, Monteverdi was appointed choirmaster at the Cathedral of Cremona. In 1590, he moved to Mantua, where he served as maestro di cappella at the court of Duke Vincenzo I Gonzaga.

In Mantua, Monteverdi composed a number of operas, including L'Orfeo (1607), L'Arianna (1608), and Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria (1640). His operas were groundbreaking for their use of new musical techniques, such as chromaticism and dissonance. They were also notable for their dramatic intensity and their psychological realism.

In addition to his operas, Monteverdi composed a large body of sacred music, including masses, motets, and madrigals. His sacred music is characterized by its beauty, its emotional depth, and its use of innovative musical techniques.

Monteverdi died in Venice in 1643. He is considered one of the most important composers of the Baroque period, and his work had a profound influence on the development of Western music.