The one hundred and ninety-third classical recording: #36 Claudio Monteverdi - Combattimento

Combattimento is, it seems, the first opera - or musical theatre piece - that's on the list, and looking at the bits of staging I've seen it does feel like there's a vocal piece that has some performers separately performing as most of the piece is narrated. There are some other voices, but it feels like it's still settling in, going from a storyteller to a more involved performance. It still features the early string sounds, but the vocals are getting so much closer and it's interesting to see the development happen - almost in front of you as the piece evolves into more of a performance.