GESUALDO, Carlo, Prince of Venosa
Naples, c1560
d Naples, 8 September 1673, aged c fifty-three

Of noble lineage, he married his cousin in 1586, and in 1590 arranged for her murder and that of her lover, the Duke of Andrea. The scandal of this brought to the fore both his name and his music, which he had previously kept in semisecrecy. A second marriage took him to Ferrara in 1594, and there his music was given the greatest encouragement. Much of his life was occupied with politics, from which he eventually withdrew completely, renouncing his princely powers and taking refuge in his music.

1596 (c36)

First four books of madrigals

1611 (c51)

Madrigals, books 5 and 6

Many sacred vocal works

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