The Return of Ulysses
We hear two examples of Monteverdi's ability to exploit the expressive power of religious music and explore his penultimate operatic masterpiece, a version of Homer's Odyssey.
Today Donald Macleod explores a masterpiece from the pens of Monteverdi and Homer - Ulysses. Monteverdi's penultimate opera is a compelling version of Homer's Odyssey, and the first opera ever to focus on real human characters and their feelings. Opera had only just been developed as a public entertainment; before 1637 the rich nobility had been the only ones who could afford this luxurious form of artistic endeavour. However, the power and expression in Monteverdi's The Return of Ulysses to his Homeland proved an immense hit with Venetian audiences.
But we begin by hearing two pieces which show Monteverdi's ability to exploit the expressive power of religious music: an Offertory and Sanctus from his collection Selva morale e spirituale (literally: "Moral and Spiritual Forest").
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Music Played
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Claudio Monteverdi
Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in patria - Act 2, Scenes 2 and 3 from Ulisse
Ensemble: Concentus Musicus Wien. Director: Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Singer: Sven Olof Eliasson. Singer: Kai Hansen. Singer: Max van Egmond.- Teldec:229242962.
- Teldec.
- 5.
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Claudio Monteverdi
Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in patria - Act 3, scenes 9 & 10 from Ulisse
Singer: Bernarda Fink. Singer: Christoph Prégardien. Ensemble: Concerto Vocale. Conductor: René Jacobs.- HARMONIA MUNDI : HMC-901427.29.
- HARMONIA MUNDI.
- 11.
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Claudio Monteverdi
Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in patria - Prologue and first scene from Ulisse
Singer: Jose Maria Lo Monaco. Singer: Anicio Zorzi Giustiniani. Ensemble: La Venexiana. Director: Claudio Cavina.- GLOSSA : GCD-920920.
- GLOSSA.
- 1.
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Claudio Monteverdi
Selva morale – Ab aeterno ordinata sum
Ensemble: Taverner Consort. Ensemble: Taverner Players. Conductor: Andrew Parrott.- EMI: 7 49876 2.
- EMI.
- 1.
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Claudio Monteverdi
Sanctus for 4 voices [1641]
Ensemble: Taverner Consort. Conductor: Andrew Parrott.- EMI 7498762.
- EMI.
- 1.
Broadcasts
- Thu 22 May 201412:00BBC Radio 3
- Thu 22 May 201418:30BBC Radio 3
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