Orpheus in the Academy: Monteverdi's First Opera and the Accademia degli Invaghiti

This book explores the influence of the Mantuan Accademia deglia Invaghiti on Claudio Monteverdi's Orfeo (1607), arguing that the Invaghiti played a key role in shaping the development of the opera. It sheds new light on Monteverdi's opera as an intellectual and philosophical work, relevant to researchers of music history, performance, and Renaissance and Baroque Italy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 242 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book offers a fresh and insightful perspective on Claudio Monteverdi's renowned Orfeo (1607), widely considered the first great opera. By delving into the influence of the Mantuan Accademia deglia Invaghiti, the group responsible for hosting the opera's performance, and the libretto author, Alessandro Striggio the Younger, who belonged to this esteemed institution, the author seeks to unravel the profound impact that the Invaghiti had on the development of Orfeo. Through a comprehensive exploration of the philosophical foundations of the Invaghiti and the Italian academies of the era, the author argues that the Invaghiti played a pivotal role in shaping the artistic trajectory of Orfeo. By drawing upon new primary sources, the author reveals how the Invaghiti's ideas about literature, dramaturgy, music, gender, and aesthetics were engaged and contested in the creation and staging of Orfeo. This study holds significant value for researchers interested in the fields of music history, performance, Renaissance, and Baroque Italy, as it sheds new light on Monteverdi's opera as an intellectual and philosophical masterpiece.

This book offers a fresh and insightful perspective on Claudio Monteverdi's renowned Orfeo (1607), widely considered the first great opera. By delving into the influence of the Mantuan Accademia deglia Invaghiti, the group responsible for hosting the opera's performance, and the libretto author, Alessandro Striggio the Younger, who belonged to this esteemed institution, the author seeks to unravel the profound impact that the Invaghiti had on the development of Orfeo. Through a comprehensive exploration of the philosophical foundations of the Invaghiti and the Italian academies of the era, the author argues that the Invaghiti played a pivotal role in shaping the artistic trajectory of Orfeo. By drawing upon new primary sources, the author reveals how the Invaghiti's ideas about literature, dramaturgy, music, gender, and aesthetics were engaged and contested in the creation and staging of Orfeo. This study holds significant value for researchers interested in the fields of music history, performance, Renaissance, and Baroque Italy, as it sheds new light on Monteverdi's opera as an intellectual and philosophical masterpiece.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032061467