An excellent review in French Clic Musique !

The outstanding Polish soprano Anna Budzyńska and her Ensemble Del Passato have dedicated themselves to an ambitious and exciting program: exploring the music of Europe four centuries ago, in the 1620s. With this first album dedicated to Italy, they give us a chance to hear little-known works of the first generation of the Baroque. They have chosen vocal pieces, often with refrains, often set to the rhythms of Iberian dances, whose accompaniment (in this case guitar and archlute) could be played by amateurs, thanks to the notation in a particular form of tablature called alfabeto. We will therefore hear early works by composers active in Venice at the time, such as a canzonette by Giovanni Stefani, Biagio Marini, a violinist better known for his innovative instrumental work, and arias by Carlo Milanuzzi. The album title "Clori" refers to the nymph Chloris, forcibly conquered by Zephyr. Anna Budzynska's voice is charming, though sometimes tart in the upper register. The intimate accompaniment gives the album an intimate, immersive atmosphere. A very pleasant discovery. (Marc Galand)