'Music of a kind that is very superior in my opinion to that of the operas, is that of the scuole. Every Sunday, motets, which are composed and directed by the greatest masters in Italy, are performed in barred-off galleries solely by girls. I can conceive of nothing as voluptuous, as moving, as this music... ' (J.J. Rousseau)

An example of this music is the Stabat Mater, the principal work this morning.

Vivaldi Concerto in G minor, for strings RV 153) - Academy of Ancient Music directed by Christopher Hogwood

8.11* Vivaldi Stabat Mater (RV 621) - James Bowman (counter-tenor) Academy of Ancient Music directed by Christopher Hogwood

8.30* Vivaldi Cello Sonata in B flat (Rv 47) - Anner Bylsma (cello) Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord) Hermann Hobarth (cello continuo)

8.42* Albinoni Violin Concerto in flat, Op 9 No 1 - Felix Ayo, I Musici

(records)