The compositions on this CD deal with a part of the musical life of the Roman seventeenthcentury that is still largely awaiting exploration. Some of their manuscripts have been discovered by l'Ensemble "Il Concerto D'Arianna" whose performances became now Dynamic's new world first recording on CD. There is a very interesting story behind these discoveries which originates from the life of an extraordinary personality of that period: Kristina Wasa Queen of Sweden, a strong patroness of the arts. After studying the theory of the philosopher's stone with Réné Descartes, converting to Catholicism and abdicating her throne, she became the soul of the artistic life in the papal city providing a modernising impulse to culture and many arts. She opened an academy, called Arcadia, where the participants enjoyed music, theatre, literature and languages. Kristina held Academia Reale which included the astronomer-mathematician Cassini. She founded an academy for philosophy and literature, was an instigator in the opening of the first public opera house in Rome, and sponsored Arcangelo Corelli, Carlo Ambrogio Lonati, Alessandro Stradella (the composers of these wonderful instrumental and vocal baroque pieces) and Alessandro Scarlatti. Orchestra Vocal & Instrumental Ensemble "Il Concerto d'Ariannna" Cristiana Arcari, soprano Roberto Staccioli, tenor Valerio Losito,solo violin Giancarlo Ceccacci, violin Ludovico Takeshi Minasi, cello (tracks 1