Claudio Monteverdi

Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi, baptized on 15 May 1567, was an influential Italian composer, choirmaster, and string player. He pioneered the development of opera, marking a vital transitional era between Renaissance and Baroque music history. Monteverdi's career flourished in Mantua and later in Venice. His work, including secular and sacred compositions, has been integral to the evolution of music, though much has been lost. Notable creations include nine books of madrigals and operas such as 'L'Orfeo'. He innovated with seconda pratica techniques, contrasting more traditional norms, and shaped the use of basso continuo, a Baroque hallmark. His legacy, once dimmed, was revived in the 20th century.