Two Early Music Divas in Duets by Stradella: Emma Kirkby and Susanne Rydén! The music by Alessandro Stradella is gaining rapidly in recognition and popularity. The composer’s extremely adventurous life (he was a ladykiller, who himself was murdered in the end by a revengeful rival) and his equally adventurous music presents a forceful image of a fascinating and important figure of the Italian Baroque. Kirkby and Rydén sing duets on secular texts, mini cantatas dealing with the eternal topics of love, sorrow, bliss and betrayal. Baroque specialist Claudio Astronio leads his own ensemble Harmonices Mundi, playing on original instruments.