CARISSIMI Oratorio della SS Vergine. Jonas • Gabriele Micheli, dir; Complesso Pro Musica Firenze • TACTUS 602802 (54:34 Text and Translation)

The Oratorio of the Blessed Virgin is one of two that Giacomo Carissimi (1605–1674) composed in the vernacular. The other one, Daniele, was coupled with the only previous recording (17:1), a more logical coupling and a better value at a full hour in length. It is coupled here with one of the most frequently recorded of the composer’s works, so you may very well have another version already. The annotators of both recordings agree that the first work is an early one.

This version, however, has a lovely aura of the space where the performance is taking place, the various singers situated in different acoustic surroundings and located at varying distances from the listener. The older version is quite flat in its perspective, though the performance is just as fine. Jonas is given a vigorous performance that shares the engineering benefits of the other work. Even if you have Jonas, this is an excellent way to hear one of the composer’s offbeat works. It shows the unfamiliar ensemble off so well that further discs are awaited.

FANFARE: J. F. Weber