Alessandro Stradella was one of the most important Italian composers of the 17th century.This recording presents the only two cantatas Stradella composed for Christmas, preceded by the instrumental Sonata di Viole, the earliest entirely instrumental works (i.e., unconnected to a vocal source) for the concertino-concerto grosso ensemble in the history of the genre. Long overdue for re-release, this milestone of the Arcana catalogue returns with new artwork in digipack format. A pupil of Chiara Banchini, Enrico Gatti finished his studies under the guidance of Sigiswald Kuijken. He has performed with, among others, La Petite Bande, Ensemble 415, Concerto Palatino, Hesperion XX, La Real Cámara, as leader of Les Arts Florissants, Les Talens Lyriques,The King's Consort, Ricercar Consort and Concerto Köln, as well as with directors such as Gustav Leonhardt and Ton Koopman. He directs the Ensemble Aurora, which he founded in Italy in 1986.