I always feel it’s a treat to read any concert program and learn about lesser-known composers. It’s lovely to be surprised. On this occasion there were delightful jewels on offer from three wonderful early music composers of whom I was not familiar: Caterina Assandra (1590–1618), Chiara Margarita Cozzolani (1602–1676) and Isabella Leonarda (1620–1704).

These sacred works were interspersed with similarly devotional but no less cracking pieces from Claudio Monteverdi and Tarquinio Merula, and a fabulous early cantata by JS Bach.

The program was presented twice on Saturday evening, once at 6pm and again at 8pm, and was just over an hour long. But the evening was nonetheless wonderfully full of excellent music all round and I love the approach to dinner-friendly programming that Australian Baroque and Giovanni are offering!

The Giovanni Consort and Australian Baroque. Photo supplied.

Giovanni began the evening with Assandra’s fantastic Duo Seraphim, and O dulcis amor Jesu and with smooth and expressive conducting, McNamara coaxed lovely dynamic variation from both ensemble and soloists alike. Well supported by the assured hands of the always excellent Stewart Smith at the organ, these pieces are marvellous, inventive, and text-led with many...