Episode details

Radio 3,12 Jun 2026,59 mins
Available for 17 days
Kate Molleson explores Monteverdi鈥檚 final decades, as Venice becomes a centre for public opera in the aftermath of war and plague. It鈥檚 a period of renewal and experimentation, from the theatrical intensity of Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda to the large-scale operas of his later years. With the opening of Venice鈥檚 first public opera house, Monteverdi adapts his style, writing music that responds to changing audiences and expectations. Chiome d鈥檕ro, bel tesoro Nuria Rial, soprano L鈥橝rpeggiata Christina Pluhar, director Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda (extract) Catherine Bott, soprano (Clorinda) John Mark Ainsley, tenor (Testo/narrator) Andrew King, tenor (Tancredi) New London Consort Philip Pickett, director Pianto della Madonna Alena Dantcheva, soprano Odhecaton Paolo Da Col, director Il ritorno d鈥橴lisse in patria 鈥 Prologue and Act I scene 1 Dominique Visse 鈥 L鈥橴mana Fragilit脿 (countertenor) Michael Schopper 鈥 Tempo (bass) Lorraine Hunt Lieberson 鈥 Fortuna (mezzo-soprano) Martina Bovet 鈥 Amore (soprano) Bernarda Fink 鈥 Penelope (mezzo-soprano) Jocelyne Taillon 鈥 Ericlea (contralto) Concerto Vocale, Ren茅 Jacobs, director L鈥檌ncoronazione di Poppea 鈥 Pur ti miro Nuria Rial, soprano (Poppea) Philippe Jaroussky, countertenor (Nerone) L鈥橝rpeggiata Christina Pluhar, director Produced by Ellie Ajao for 麻豆社 Audio Wales and West
Programme WebsiteTracklist
- TrackArtist
- 1.Chiome d'oro, bel thesoroChiome d'oro, bel thesoroClaudio Monteverdi
- 2.Il Combattimento di Tancredi et Clorinda (excerpt)Il Combattimento di Tancredi et Clorinda (excerpt)Claudio Monteverdi
- 3.Pianto della Madonna a voce sola sopra al Lamento d'AriannaPianto della Madonna a voce sola sopra al Lamento d'AriannaClaudio Monteverdi
- 4.Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria, Act 1: Prologue; Scene 1Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria, Act 1: Prologue; Scene 1Claudio Monteverdi
- 5.L'incoronazione di Poppea, Act 3: 'Pur ti miro'L'incoronazione di Poppea, Act 3: 'Pur ti miro'Claudio Monteverdi