In its day La scuola de’ gelosi (1778) was one of the best-known comic operas by Antonio Salieri (1750–1825), remaining a box-office hit for decades. All the more astonishing is the fact that it could sink into obscurity. Even Goethe was excited by this masterpiece: “The opera is the audience’s favourite, and the audience is right. It contains an astonishing richness and variety, and the subject is treated with the most exquisite taste. I was moved by every aria.”

Antonio Vivaldi's The Four Seasons is one of the most popular works in the classical repertoire worldwide. But Vivaldi wasn't the only composer to be inspired by the change of seasons. Another was Christopher Simpson (1605–1669), one of the best viola da gamba players of the early English Baroque and a highly esteemed composer. His Four Seasons is one of those fascinating works that take us on a musical journey through the recurring parts of the year.

The Sixteen continues its exploration of Palestrina’s great art with the eagerly anticipated seventh album in the series which includes the Missa Ave Regina caelorum

With her new record „La Belle Excentrique“, soprano Patricia Petibon makes a welcome return to French repertoire, exploring the fascinating world of French art song in this extraordinary new album. The album features all-time favorites by Satie, Fauré, Poulenc, Reynaldo Hahn, Manuel Rosenthal, but also popular hits by Léo Ferré.

Despite being written for the celebration of royal occasions, Purcells Royal Welcome Songs were penned during a time of immense disillusionment with the monarchy. Filled with humour as well as an ironic detachment from the politics of the time, Ye tuneful muses and Sound the trumpet fizz with the dramatic energy which characterised his later operas and mark a crucial turning point in Purcells career. This programme showcases the variety and diversity of Purcells writing, opening with the Chacony in G minor, which is among the great glories of music for strings, and including When on my sick bed I languish - an amazingly impassioned piece in which he bares his soul…quintessential Purcell!

Arias & Duets from Semele, Partenope and other Handel Masterpieces. One of the very last recordings of Alan Curtis, an authority on Early Music and a profound musician who pioneered the revival of Baroque opera. With Christiane Karg, one of the most-sought-after lyric sopranos of the present day.

„The deaf have found their ears, -their eyes the blind“. It was with these words that an unnamed English poet hymned George Frideric Handel in 1724, hailing his unparalleled impact on London’s musical scene. Handel had first come to the English capital in 1710, at a time when Italian opera was largely neglected in Britain. Not until 1719 did the city’s nobility establish the first operatic venture, the Royal Academy of Music. It lasted for only nine seasons. Within the space of three decades Handel wrote almost forty operas, founding his own opera companies and often suffering financial ruin in consequence. The market for opera in 18th-century London was volatile.

Featuring chamber arrangements of Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 and a selection of Lieder by Schnabel, this is an unusual but charming release from the youthful Myrthen Ensemble with soprano Rachel Harnisch and conductor Graziella Contratto.

Leonardo Leo was one of the most influential Neapolitan baroque composers. It was no surprise that he was appointed as the maestro di cappella in the Royal Court Chapel, the most prominent musical institution in Naples. The recordings on this CD offer a unique selection of sacred works representing Leo’s incredible ability to connect ancient and modern styles and create exceptional music.