Philippe Jaroussky and Belgian-born soprano, Céline Scheen join often-quirky early music band, L’Arpeggiata in a beautifully sombre selection of music by composers from north of the Alps who composed in the Italian early baroque style. Culminating in Jaroussky’s plangent account of Bach’s Komm, süsser Tod, the recital also contains works by Schütz and Bach’s forebear, JC Bach. Works by lesser known figures predominate, as do laments and lullabies.

The well-chosen program is full of interest, often exploiting the expressive possibilities of ground bass, as in an anonymous instrumental Chiaccona (in which cornetto player, Doron David Sherwin shines) or Erlebach’s Kommt, ihr Stunden, intensely delivered by Jaroussky. Scheen is no less a musical communicator, bringing appropriate sensuality...