17th Century - Classical Explorer

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17th Century

A collection of 12 posts

Vache Baroque 2026: The Tempest

Live Performance

Vache Baroque 2026: The Tempest

This was a true company effort, and any caveats melt into insignificance

A Charpentier Baroque Christmas & A New Era: The Monteverdi Choir & Christophe Rousset

A Charpentier Baroque Christmas & A New Era: The Monteverdi Choir & Christophe Rousset

Sublimely beautiful music in incomparable performances

Weckmann Sonatas on cpo

Weckmann Sonatas on cpo

Fabulously varied fare, full of contrasts

Bach Christmas Oratorio

Bach Christmas Oratorio

Gardiner reminds us of the eternal profundity of the Christmas story

Christvesper Dresden 1624: Rogier Michael's little-known gem

Christvesper Dresden 1624: Rogier Michael's little-known gem

The Christvesper is like a magical Christmas tapestry

Cavalli's “Il Xerse” from Martina Franca

Cavalli's “Il Xerse” from Martina Franca

This remains an invaluable release, one full of cherishable moments

“Flamboyant bien-aimé”: The Harpsichord of Louis XV

“Flamboyant bien-aimé”: The Harpsichord of Louis XV

A great disc. Clément Geoffroy is a superb harpsichordist; and the repertoire is perfectly chosen

Infinite inspiration in the Sonatas of Dario Castello

Infinite inspiration in the Sonatas of Dario Castello

Castello is far more than a footnote or a sentence (if he's lucky) in a history book

Venus and Dido: Two British Operas

Venus and Dido: Two British Operas

The relationship between Blow’s Venus and Adonis and Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas is well-documented, particularly as regards their final choruses (with Purcell modelling his finale on Blow’s), but to hear the two together is rare. And, it turn out, a delight. Blow's Venus and

Schütz' beautiful Dafne

Schütz' beautiful Dafne

A stunning act of creative historial musicology, caught in a committed performance and fine recording

A Messiah from Versailles: Hervé Niquet conducts

A Messiah from Versailles: Hervé Niquet conducts

There is a plethora of Messiahs around anyway (any advances on a collective noun for Messiahs?), so why another. Read on ... Recorded in the glorious chapel of Versaillles, this is a ompletely rethought Messiah - in complete and utter contrast to a Messiah at he Festival Hall on Saturday, 4 December,

La Voce Sola: the music of Barbara Strozzi

La Voce Sola: the music of Barbara Strozzi

Superb performances throughout of music of infinite depth and emotion by a truly great composer