Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Some good news: Naxos is releasing a series of Vivaldi's sacred music at budget price. Please do not equate "budget" with cheap: this is an excellent recording of interesting material sung and played to a high standard. Perhaps, in places, one could wish that it was Emma Kirkby singing the soprano part but Jane Archibald and Michele de Boer do a more than adequate job between them. Perhaps these are new names to you (they were to me)? I am confident that we will hear much more from these talented musicians as the Aradia Ensemble is turning into a house band for Naxos. The Ensemble is based in Toronto and plays early music on original instruments and play them very well indeed. The singing is also enjoyable. The works on offer are "Dixit Dominus" (RV 595), "Nulla In Mundo Pax Sincera" (RV 630) and "Jubilate, O Amoeni Chori" (RV 639) with "Gloria" (RV 588). The booklet notes set them in context and the texts are provided, with English translation. We look forward to hearing more in this series.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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