This new CD presents the complete Sinfonias for violin and basso continuo by Alessandro Stradella, a First Recording!

The music by Alessandro Stradella is gaining rapidly in recognition and popularity. The composer’s extremely adventurous life (he was an aristocratic lady-killer, who himself was murdered in the end by a revengeful rival) and his equally adventurous music presents a forceful image of a fascinating and important figure of the Italian Baroque.

The most obvious stylistic characteristic of these pieces is the prevalence of counterpoint. Stradella attributed similar values to the violin and basso continuo parts, entrusting the latter with more than the customary harmonic support. Indeed, often the melody is developed by both instruments, weaving back and forth from basso continuo to violin in constant dialogue, in keeping with “concerto” form.

Founded in 2014 by the violinist Ewa Anna Augustynowicz, Ensemble Giardino di Delizie is a female quartet of early-music experts based in Rome but working internationally, not only with each other but also within groups led by Christophe Coin, Enrico Onofri, Fabio Bondi and other luminaries of modern Baroque performance. Their previous recordings with music by Lonati and Colista were reviewed enthusiastically by the international press.