Monteverdi’s Fifth Book of Madrigals, published in 1605, takes even further the expressive writing of the Fourth Book (Naxos 8.555310), which had delighted his patron, the Duke of Mantua, but scandalized others. From the Fifth Book onwards, the traditional madrigal for 5 voices is transformed into the madrigale concertato, in which instrumental writing forms an important and innovative part of the structure. The theme running through the 19 madrigals is that of unrequited love, with the extended and highly dramatic scene surrounding the unhappy couple, Dorinda and Silvio, forming the heart of the collection ( 4 – 8 ). In line with recent research into performance practice of the time, all the singers on this recording are men.