Many of the settings exploit the sensual intertwining of two soprano voices over a basso continuo...Emma Kirkby, dewy-voiced as ever, and Swedish soprano Susanne Rydén make exquisite partners, ever-sensitive to the music's subtle nuances and graceful ornamentation.

Harvey’s few contributions to the BIS disc, a collection of Italian vocal duets and trios from the court of the legendary 17th-century Queen Christina of Sweden, are wonderfully stylish, but the recital is dominated by the sopranos and Lars Ulrik Mortensen’s spirited harpsichord playing.

[Mortensen's] captivating harpsichord accompaniments also play a vital part in helping to share the appealing merits of refined miniatures such as Antonio Cesti's duet 'Già son morto'...Luigi Rossi's 'Dite o cieli' is sung by Kirkby and Harvey with marvellous lightness and I particularly admired Carissimi's trio I Naviganti.

[Kirkby, Rydén and Harvey], all specialists in the historically informed performance of Baroque music, have the light, brilliant, flexible voices necessary to do these lovely works full justice. Kirkby is warmer than the more crystalline-sounding and considerably younger Rydén, but she is no less agile and thus the two sopranos are a perfect match.

The vocal colours of Kirkby and her fellow soprano Susanne Rydén complement each other beautifully, while Peter Harvey’s resonant baritone and the countertenor Mikael Bellini add other shades.