The Pelléas Ensemble’s debut album illustrates the many possibilities offered by the unique combination of flute, viola and harp. It presents a rich and expressive collection of repertoire spanning three centuries. Debussy, Rameau and Bax all shared an appreciation of science and nature which they combined in their art with elements of improvisation, mystery and spirituality. Sir Richard Rodney Bennett illustrates the myth of Syrinx – a story of unrequited love and metamorphosis – through his own transformation of the music of Debussy. Composed for the Pelléas Ensemble in 2017, and recorded here for the first time, Scherzo by Benjamin Graves provides a vibrant and original exploration of the dramatic possibilities of all three instruments. The Pelléas Ensemble have made a name for themselves through their intimate, honest music-making, and ambitious programming. Through this album they demonstrate the versatility of the ensemble; each instrument has a chance to celebrate its distinctive voice, whilst multifarious textures and colours are afforded by the three together.

Here one finds an historically informed and wholly satisfying approach that has spring in its step in the exuberant allegros and beguiling grace and tenderness in the slow movements. Again, Naxos has mounted a formidable challenge to the full-price competition with a well-recorded release that is a steal at the price.

Historical recordings: The ensemble's confidently-chosen name made it clear from the outset that the Quartetto Italiano saw itself not simply as an Italian string quartet among many, but as the authoritative one. The ensemble was soon recognized as a pioneer of Italian chamber music culture following the Second World War. Through their tireless obsession with detail, in-depth exploration of the works' musical expression, and the remarkable homogeneity of their quartet sound, the Quartetto Italiano conquered a firm place in the top league of leading string quartets over the first two decades of their career.

Historical recordings: The ensemble's confidently-chosen name made it clear from the outset that the Quartetto Italiano saw itself not simply as an Italian string quartet among many, but as the authoritative one. The ensemble was soon recognized as a pioneer of Italian chamber music culture following the Second World War. Through their tireless obsession with detail, in-depth exploration of the works' musical expression, and the remarkable homogeneity of their quartet sound, the Quartetto Italiano conquered a firm place in the top league of leading string quartets over the first two decades of their career.

The Opera\-Oratorio Passio Christi narrates the events of the Lords Passion from the Last Supper to the dawn of Resurrection. The story is told through the feelings and emotions of some of the characters who took part in it in various ways: Peter, Judas, the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene, the Cyrenean, the soldier Longinus and the Angels. Each character sings the verses of the saints and poets of the world in a different language (Italian, English, French, Russian, Spanish, Latin and ancient Greek) to represent the whole world before the mystery of human suffering. The dramatic structure of the Opera follows the ancient structure of the Sacred Representations: in fact, its original form is designed for dramatization and scenic action. The events of the Gospel are interspersed with the arias of the various characters, which constitute a sort of cinematographic still image.

Cecilia Bartoli's new CD features a collection of music that could not be heard in her native Rome at the start of the 18th century due to Papal censorship. Theaters, the Church felt, were places of evil and corruption and operas led people to immorality. But some music-loving senior members of the priesthood asked composers to write oratorios and cantatas–indeed, operas without staging, essentially–for their own private entertainment. Call it what you will, the music is sensational–by turns virtuosic, gentle, and playful–and always expressive: just right, it seems, for Cecilia Bartoli's temperament. The opening aria on the CD, a call for peace in the name of Jesus, is, in fact, a dazzling martial air with trumpets blaring and the voice going through an amazing array of coloratura fireworks.