Claudio Monteverdi

c. 1567 – 29 November 1643

Claudio Monteverdi was an Italian composer, string player, and choirmaster whose work bridged the Renaissance and Baroque eras. His opera L'Orfeo (1607) is among the earliest operas still regularly performed, and his nine books of madrigals transformed secular vocal music. He served the Gonzaga court in Mantua and later spent three decades as maestro di cappella at St Mark's Basilica in Venice.

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Life events

Born in Cremona, Duchy of Milan
c. 1567

Claudio Monteverdi was baptized in Cremona on 15 May 1567, the son of an apothecary.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Studied music under Marc'Antonio Ingegneri in Cremona
c. 1580

As a youth he studied composition with Marc'Antonio Ingegneri, maestro di cappella of Cremona Cathedral, and published his first works while still a teenager.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Joined the Gonzaga court in Mantua as a string player
c. 1590

Around 1590-1591 Monteverdi entered the service of Duke Vincenzo I Gonzaga of Mantua as a vocalist and viol player.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Married the court singer Claudia de Cattaneis
1599

In 1599 Monteverdi married Claudia de Cattaneis, a singer at the Mantuan court, with whom he had three children.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Appointed maestro della musica to the Duke of Mantua
1601

In 1601 he was promoted to master of music at the Gonzaga court, directing its musical establishment.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Premiere of the opera L'Orfeo in Mantua
24 February 1607

L'Orfeo, one of the earliest surviving operas and a foundational work of the genre, was first performed at the Mantuan court on 24 February 1607.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Death of his wife Claudia
September 1607

Monteverdi's wife Claudia died in Cremona in September 1607, leaving him with two surviving children.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Appointed maestro di cappella at St Mark's Basilica, Venice
August 1613

In August 1613 Monteverdi was appointed director of music at San Marco in Venice, one of the most prestigious musical posts in Italy, which he held until his death.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Ordained as a Catholic priest
1632

Following a plague outbreak in Venice, Monteverdi took holy orders and was ordained a priest in 1632.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Venice
29 November 1643

Monteverdi died in Venice on 29 November 1643, shortly after the premiere of his final opera L'incoronazione di Poppea, and was buried in the Frari church.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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