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Church and Theatre

Donald Macleod plays Monteverdi's dramatic music theatre piece, Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda and describes how a plague wiped out one third of the population of Venice.

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.

1 hour

Music Played

  • Claudio Monteverdi

    Messa da cappella for 4 voices and organ [1650]

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • HELIOS : CDH-55145.
    • HELIOS.
    • 2.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Broadcasts

  • Tue 20 May 2014 12:00
  • Tue 20 May 2014 18:30

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