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Highlights from a concert of madrigals by the notorious, murderous and revolutionary Carlo Gesualdo, performed in Rome last year by Les Arts Florissants.

Madrigals were by far the most important form of secular music in Gesualdo's time. The lyrics were passionate, sentimental and often highly erotic. Surrounded by some of Italy’s finest musicians, Gesualdo became enormously productive, publishing his first two madrigal books in 1594. His third book – written as his mental state began to seriously unravel – displays the intense contrasts and dark, unconventional dissonances that have made him almost into a cult figure these days.

Presented by Lucie Skeaping.

Gesualdo: Excerpts from 'Secondo Libro de' Madrigali a cinque voci'
2. Hai rotto e sciolto e spento
7a. O come è gran martire
7b. O mio soave ardore
14. Non mi toglia il ben mio

Gesualdo: Terzo libro de' Madrigali a cinque voci
1a. Voi volete ch’io mora - 1b. moro, o non moro?
2. Ahi, disperata vita
3. Languisco e moro
4. Del bel de’ bei vostr’occhi
5. Ahi, dispietata e cruda
6. Dolce spirto d’amore
7a. Sospirava il mio core
7b. O mal nati messagi e mal intesi
8. Veggio sì dal mio sole
9. «Non t’amo», o voce ingrata
10a. Meraviglia d’amore
10b. Ed ardo e vivo, dolce aura gradita
11. Crudelissima doglia
12. Se piange, ohimè, la donna del mio core
13. Ancidetemi pur, grievi martiri
14. Se vi miro pietosa
15. Deh, se già fu crudele al mio martire
16. Dolcissimo sospiro
17. Donna, se m’ancidete