one of the most famous Italian composers, whose work already crosses the border of the Renaissance.
His operas and large-scale vocal-instrumental works are characteristic of the Baroque style.
Born in 1567 In Cremona (Northern Italy), the father was a doctor. He studied music with Markas Antonio Indženjeri, the Kapellmeister of the Cremona Cathedral and a famous composer of the time. Since 1590 served in the court of Vincenzo I Gonzaga, duke of Mantua, was a music teacher, singer, performer. He visited Hungary, Flanders, Innsbruck, Prague, Linz and Vienna with the duke's chapel. Freed from service, in 1613 began to lead the Venetian St. St. Mark's Cathedral chapels (maestro di cappella). As a representative of the Renaissance, he left an excellent work of choral polyphony - motets and madrigals (about 200). As a baroque composer - examples of early operas.
Madrigals have an exceptional value in K. Monteverdi's work - it was his compositions that determined the fundamental stylistic changes of this genre. Now it is no longer a polyphonic vocal ensemble, but a song of one, two or more voices with instrumental accompaniment.
