The author of around 800 cantatas, Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725) was the Baroque era’s most prolific composer of this particular chamber genre. This release’s two examples, both ‘with instruments’, feature a solo contralto, a voice the Sicilian dedicated a mere 10 per cent of his cantata output to. Complementing these works is a couple of his minor-key concertos and sonatas by the composer. An all-Italian cast performs the program, with alto Gabriella Martellacci taking the lead in the cantatas.
