Zaïcik is the foremost beneficiary of the programme. Her clear mezzo-soprano voice, with its tonal purity, tightly controlled vibrato and fluent virtuosity serve Vivaldi’s motets Invicti Bellate and Nisi Dominus very well..the Nisi Dominus, with its tenderly played viola d’amore accompaniment in the Gloria, and imaginative continuo realisation throughout, is one of the most beguiling performances that I know.

Vincent Dumestre can do no wrong, and he deserves kudos for assembling a varied, stimulating program that works well, despite the fact that a century and a half separate Razzi and Soto de Langa from Locatelli and Vivaldi. What looks like a disorganized farrago on paper is a tasty stew in practice. Dumestre caresses the music and brings out its lively brilliance without driving it too hard.

Throughout the disc, Vincent Dumestre offers well-judged direction of his multihued band, the continuo group featuring theorbo, guitar, colascione and chitarrino as well as keyboard instruments.