Choral Works, Madrigals, Songs : Ephrikian / I Solisti di Milano, Polifonia Consort (3CD)

Of his rich and prolific legacy, Claudio Monteverdi, born in Cremona in 1567, is particularly celebrated for his innovations; one of the most influential figures of 16th- and 17th-century music, he extended the expressive possibilities of his craft in an inventive blend of the old and new. This 3-disc set is a superb overview of his long and varied career, touching on each of the genres that he transformed - choral music, the madrigal, secular song and opera. From his years as a court composer to his time as maestro di cappella of San Marco in Venice, Monteverdi's career was defined by his revolutionary approach to musical expression. This 3-disc collection is an engaging exploration of some of his most significant developments, and a fitting tribute to a composer who has been described as the 'creator of modern music'.