I picked this up havingbeen so impressed withConcerto Italiano’s highlyacclaimed recording ofmotets by Melani(OP30431). Melani, acomposer fortunately recovered fromoblivion by Alessandrini and his ensemble, isfeatured again – alongside Monteverdi,Bencini, Soler, Scarlatti and others – in thiscollection of music devoted to the VirginMary. The inclusion of Stravinsky for thefinal track seems incongruous, but actuallyworks really well. Alessandrini always gets anamazing sound from these singers. There issomething compellingly raw and immediateabout the voices, and this sound is capturedbrilliantly in their recordings.