Les Arts Florissants perform Monteverdi: Madrigals, Book VII

Giving a rendition of the eight books of madrigals by Monteverdi was Paul Agnew's extensive project. The concerts series kicked-off in 2011, performed by Les Arts Florissants, a talented French Baroque musical ensemble. This new concert available on medici.tv is the perfect opportunity to listen to the Seventh Book of madrigals.

The Seventh Book was published in Venice in 1619, and stands out from the others thanks to its multiple vocal combinations: two wonderful monodies (the Lettera amorosa and the Partenza amorosa) but also all the combinations of voices possible (from one to six voices) apart from the traditional five-voices combination.

Another striking element: the Book ends with a mythological Ballet. Tirsi e Clori puts forward natural elements such as the air, the clouds, the wind, the water or even flowers. The Ballet had been commissioned by the Duke Ferdinand de Gonzague to Monteverdi and then performed for the first time in 1616 Mantua.

This concert was part of the complete Monteverdi Madrigals series performed by Les Arts Florissants conducted by Paul Agnew at the Cité de la Musique, and at the théâtre de Caen.

Les Arts Florissants are supported by the Ministry of Culture and Communication, la Ville de Caen and the Région Basse-Normandie. They are in residency at the théâtre de Caen. Imerys and Alstom are the great benefactors of Les Arts Florissants.