ALESSANDRO STRADELLA (1643-1682): Cantatas: Soffro, Misero, Taccio, La Circe I, La Circe II, Prologue to Antonio Cesti’s La Dori, Sonata in D for Viols.

Description: Written for the lavish celebrations marking Leopoldo de’ Medici being made a cardinal, La Circe is set near a fountain on the leafy slopes of Parnassus. It evokes the spirit of the sorceress Circe who, while searching for the grave of her son, is dazzled by a bright light – the presence of a Medici. Complete with echo effects and deliciously lyrical and expressive music, La Circe is both a fascinating enigma and a perfect example of aristocratic tastes in Baroque Rome. This double album release contains the unabridged version of La Circe I and the World Premiere Recording of La Circe II. 2 CDs. Italian-English texts. Alessandro Stradella Consort; Estevan Velardi.