Another triumph for the irrepressible Cecilia Bartoli. Her investigation of the neglected and forgotten early baroque composers of the 17th and early18th centuries continues, here focusing on the output of the priest/composer/diplomat Agostino Steffani, whose career took him to the great courts of Europe. The result is a fascinating selection of arias covering a gamut of emotions, from joy to sorrow. From the evidence here, Steffani, who composed about 20 operas, doesn't deserve the neglect that has been his lot, and these arias show his music to have emotional depth and range deserving of a wider audience. Bartoli's performance is committed and impassioned, and her technical mastery makes for an engaging recital. The cover, showing her as a shaven-headed cleric, is startling to say the least.
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