On the transition of renaissance and early baroque this music is a synthesis of the polyphonic instrumental music for 2 (instrumental) choirs as developed in Venice. The symphoniae already have a basso continuo, but are polyphonic composed for 2 choirs. Alberto Rasi, with Academis Strumentale and two other consorts has understood the basis of the music perfectly. His approach is to render the canzonas in accordance with the style of late renaissance instrumental dance music, using contempory instruments.

Italian late Renaissance composer Giulio Caccini (1551-1618) was not only one of the most famous composers of his time but also an exceptionally gifted singer. "Dolcissimo sospiro" presents a fine selection of strophic arias and madrigals from Caccini's "Nuove Musiche". Singer of those "sweetest sigh", Roberta Invernizzi, is one of the most sought-after sopranos in the field of Early Music. The Accademia Strumentale Italiana, an ensemble specializing in Early Music, has performed extensively in Italy, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria and Germany and has been invited to several international festivals. This recording received the Midem Award for the Best Recording of Early Music in 2007.

Italian label Stradivarius is actively recording all 86 known works of Veronese composer Evaristo Felice Dall'Abaco and a previous entry consisting of trio sonatas from Dall'Abaco's Opp. 1 & 3 was quite good. This follow-up recording of concertos, Evaristo Felice Dall'Abaco: Concerto à più Istrumenti Opera Quinta, taken from Dall'Abaco's Op. 5, though, is really quite outstanding thanks to the performers involved, the Veronese Baroque orchestra Il Tempio Armonico, whose first commercial recording this is. The group has a terrific sense of ensemble dynamics, and the swells of volume in the Allegro of Dall'Abaco's Concerto Op. 5/3 are placed exactly where they should be, flowing right along with the music.