Not that Biber and Schmelzer are household names, but the even-lesser-known Johann Jakob Walther is equally the peer of those masters of 17th C. German school violin virtuosity...........anyone who appreciates the warmth, humor and fireworks of this unique genre will find pleasure in this nicely done and well filled recording, which thankfully doesn't duplicate the selections of previous discs by the great Ricercar Consort, Reinhard Goebel and others..........these ditties are a rare treat, both masterful and whimsical in expression

Philippe Jaroussky continues his rediscovery of long-forgotten arias for high male voice with this collection of music by Antonio Caldara, a contemporary of Bach, Handel and Vivaldi, who was the first composer to set many librettos by the great Metastasio and Zeno.