The Early Music Show - Monteverdi's Fifth Book of Madrigals

Robert Hollingworth explores Monteverdi's Fifth Book of madrigals. This book was a pivotal work in the development of the madrigal; Monteverdi developed the expressive and dramatic style from his previous book of madrigals, and he introduced instruments to the 5-voice ensemble, the beginning of the 'madrigale concertato' style. The forward-looking declamatory style of this book of madrigals heralded a new dramatic era; just two years later Monteverdi wrote his opera Orfeo.