This Week in Classical Music: May 12, 2025. Monteverdi, Two Frenchmen, and Travels. Claudio Monteverdi, one of the greatest composers in classical music history, was born in Cremona and baptized there on May 15th of 1567. He lived during a period of transition, at the end of what we call Renaissance music and the beginning of the Baroque, which he helped to forge. He was also the most important composer of the nascent art of opera. We’ve written about him many times: here, for example, is the entry celebrating his 450th anniversary. Here is Magnificat II, from the volume Vespro della Beata Vergine, published in 1610. The Magnificat was composed in Mantua, where Monteverdi served at the court of the Gonzagas. The recording (La Capella Reial, Coro Del Centro Musica Antica Di Padova, under the direction of Jordi Savall) was also made in Mantua, at the church of Santa Barbara. And speaking of Cremona and Mantua, see below.
Two Frenchmen, Jules Massenet and Gabriel Fauré, were born on the same day, May 12th, three years apart: Massenet in 1842, Fauré in 1845. Massenet is famous for two operas, Manon and Werther, though there are 28 more that he wrote. He was considered musically conservative even during his life, but, quite clearly, had a melodic talent. Fauré, on the other hand, was very much forward-looking and influenced many French composers.
Two more somewhat “round” anniversaries: the Russian composer Anatoly Lyadov was born 170 years ago, on May 12th of 1855. He was known for his indolence as much as for his talent. Expelled from Rimsky-Korsakov’s class for absenteeism, he managed to complete his studies at the St. Petersburg Conservatory two years later. His best-known compositions are tone poems Baba Yaga, Kikimora, The Enchanted Lake and some short piano pieces. The great German conductor Otto Klemperer was born 140 years ago, on May 14th of 1885.
We mentioned two cities in connection with Monteverdi, Cremona and Mantua. Classical Connect will be traveling the next two weeks or so and hopes to visit both cities. We’ll write about them upon return.
Monteverdi, Travels 2025
This Week in Classical Music: May 12, 2025. Monteverdi, Two Frenchmen, and Travels. Claudio Monteverdi, one of the greatest composers in classical music history, was born in
Cremona and baptized there on May 15th of 1567. He lived during a period of transition, at the end of what we call Renaissance music and the beginning of the Baroque, which he helped to forge. He was also the most important composer of the nascent art of opera. We’ve written about him many times: here, for example, is the entry celebrating his 450th anniversary. Here is Magnificat II, from the volume Vespro della Beata Vergine, published in 1610. The Magnificat was composed in Mantua, where Monteverdi served at the court of the Gonzagas. The recording (La Capella Reial, Coro Del Centro Musica Antica Di Padova, under the direction of Jordi Savall) was also made in Mantua, at the church of Santa Barbara. And speaking of Cremona and Mantua, see below.
Two Frenchmen, Jules Massenet and Gabriel Fauré, were born on the same day, May 12th, three years apart: Massenet in 1842, Fauré in 1845. Massenet is famous for two operas, Manon and Werther, though there are 28 more that he wrote. He was considered musically conservative even during his life, but, quite clearly, had a melodic talent. Fauré, on the other hand, was very much forward-looking and influenced many French composers.
Two more somewhat “round” anniversaries: the Russian composer Anatoly Lyadov was born 170 years ago, on May 12th of 1855. He was known for his indolence as much as for his talent. Expelled from Rimsky-Korsakov’s class for absenteeism, he managed to complete his studies at the St. Petersburg Conservatory two years later. His best-known compositions are tone poems Baba Yaga, Kikimora, The Enchanted Lake and some short piano pieces. The great German conductor Otto Klemperer was born 140 years ago, on May 14th of 1885.
We mentioned two cities in connection with Monteverdi, Cremona and Mantua. Classical Connect will be traveling the next two weeks or so and hopes to visit both cities. We’ll write about them upon return.