Claudio Monteverdi (1567 - 1643) was an Italian composer, violinist and singer. His work marks the transition from Renaissance to Baroque music. During his long life he produced work that can be classified in both categories, and he was one of the most significant revolutionaries that brought about the change in style. Here for the first time on CD is John Elliot Gardiner, one of World's top conductors, in his earliest recordings feauring the madrigals of Moneteverdi (including his 6 madrigals "Sestina" and others such as John Wilbye, Orlando Gibbons and Thomas Morley.