I Barocchisti / Diego Fasolis

The inspired conductor of Mission directs an album of music from Steffani’s operas as a companion release to Cecilia Bartoli’s Stabat Mater.

Mission created great interest in the music of little-known Italian composer Agostino Steffani (1654–1728). Fasolis’s conducting thrust him into the spotlight as one of the most dynamic baroque interpreters working today.

The variety of styles in Steffani’s music continues to surprise. With 43 great tracks of enchanting early-baroque music this collection is set to be another revelation.

In his time, Steffani was universally admired for his opera music, and much of the appeal of the works lies in the beauty of his orchestration. The disc opens with seven pieces from his celebrated Orlando and goes on to offer a sparkling array of preludes, gavottes, gigues, airs and much more besides from a wide range of his operatic work.

Diego Fasolis draws sparkling performances from period specialists I Barocchisti in music of a composer whose rediscovery is one of the great finds of our time.

“Superbly conducted by Diego Fasolis, these artists make the best case imaginable for Steffani’s music . . . Color and texture reign supreme, with instrumental combinations chosen to highlight the overtones in Bartoli’s voice . . . Given the quality of Steffani’s music, Bartoli’s project might best be regarded as “Mission Triumphant.” – San Francisco Classical Voice on Mission