Some refreshing sonatas, including that one Chacona that gets included on every single Bertali disc (it is pretty catchy though, and the performance here is good).

This is a double disc of briskly executed concertos which are inventive and have a great variety of sounds in them. Heinichen just keeps the ideas flowing.

Some very nice sonatas and other pieces which mostly have a continuo which keeps things moving nicely. Skip Sempe directs.

Some sublime, restrained flute playing on these sonatas by the master. The tempo is on the slow side, but here I'm in favour of that.

This is a heavenly disc, how could I only give it four stars in my review? This is a soundtrack to paradise with wonderful vocal pieces interspersed with playful and entertaining instrumental passages. Oh to see Lully and the King prance together in their tights...

This starts out at 100 mph with some very tight playing, but the performance overall is well-judged and passionate, and the music veers off into some unexpected discordant passages. Interesting provenance to the score.

Yikes, so much wonderful music (on 7 CDs!) where does one begin? Played throughout with grace and enthusiasm, and contains some great tunes. I just listen and enjoy, but where I might get to judge it is in comparison with the other recording of L'Apotheoses de Lully (spelling?) with which I'm familiar, over which this one comes out top. A bargain.

Sumpuous flute concertos from CPR Bach, Franz Benda, Freddy II of Prussia and Quantz recommended to me by a friend. The flute flies so much that they verge on the romantic sometimes.

This performance has such a relaxd, almost careless quality about it, and yet it is so beautifully put together that one is left wondering where the manuscript stops and the interpretation begins.

Carmignola enjoys himself with some fine late Vivaldi, and I enjoy him enjoying himself at this sort of thing.

This is quite a mix of moods from the two Scarlatti's, from sombre to nimble.

Brescianello was violinist for the Elector of Bavaria for a period but also wrote some instrumental pieces, a selection of which comprises this CD. Some pieces are influenced by Vivaldi, some likely by more Northern Italian composers. It's played brightly and with enthusasm and is easy on the ear with some lovely melodies.

These concerti are quite wonderful - elegant, lively and enjoyable. There is a lot of ornamentation, but also a lot of intricate and pleasing passages, and some clever melodies. I keep finding new pleasures in passages that had previously partially passed me by. The woodwind seems quite to the fore in some of these pieces, and that provides for some nice variety.

This is a wonderful mixed collection of early music by a variety of English or London-based composers with a fair amount of recorder. I can't identify all of the many instruments, but some are very lively and unusual in tone.

Some smooth and mellow flute digressions. Disc one is pleasant but a bit samey, but things really get interesting on disc two and (to a lesser extent) on three.

This is a fun, lively and varied selection of pieces.

A selection of joyfully played violin sonatas that have a bright, lively feel.

This has some expressive pieces, many with quite a romantic feel. It's hard to believe that is is baroque period.

Some nicely played selection of pieces by Legrenzi including a couple of gorgeous vocal pieces.

Accessible and melodic early instrumental music. I'm not sure about the authenticity of the performance, because the music really seems ahead of its time, but for pure listening enjoyment this is quite a treat.