(Credit: www.glossamusic.com)

Italian conductor and countertenor Claudio Cavina has died at the age of 58. In 2016 Cavina suffered a stroke and had struggled with his health ever since.

Cavina was one of the most important Italian countertenors of his generation. He began his vocal studies in Bologna, and continued his training at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. He performed globally with many early music groups.

In 1997 Cavina founded the madrigal ensemble “La Venexiana,” and had been its Music director until 2016.

Cavina conducted Monteverdi’s “L’Orfeo” in a series of European performances at Jerez de la Frontera, Madrid, Modena, Genova, Melk, Regensburg, London, St. Gallen and Lyon. His notable recordings include Monteverdi’s “Il ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria,” “L’Orfeo,” “L’Incoronazione di Poppea,” ” Terzo Libro dei Madrigali,” and Cavalli’s “Artemisia,” and “Sospiri d’amore,” among others.