Ars Lyrica, Houston’s leading early music ensemble, has gained praise for its “zestful music-making” (Houston Chronicle). Now, the ensemble is proud to announce the release of its first album on Naxos, one of the world’s premiere classical recording labels.

Ars Lyrica performs two Baroque masterpieces by Alessandro Scarlatti’s: Euridice dall’Inferno and La concettione della Beata Vergine. Played on Ars Lyrica’s signature period instruments, the performances reveal the brilliance and depth of Scarlatti’s expressive and highly theatrical music, which has received renewed interest as the composer has become increasingly recognized as the peer of Baroque masters such as Handel and Vivaldi.

Conducted by Ars Lyrica founder and Artistic Director Matthew Dirst (the first American to win international prizes in both organ and harpsichord), the recording features several rising stars of classical music. Soprano Melissa Givens (“A clear, expressive voice, bright, strong…” Opera magazine) is the featured voice on Euridice dall’Inferno and sings the role of the Archangel Michael on La concettione della Beata Vergine, where she is joined by countertenor Gerrod Pagenkopf (“An elegant bearing and a sweet, even sound,” Houston Chronicle) performing Grace, tenor Joseph Gaines (“…impressive…” New York Times) singing Hersey and bass Timothy Jones (“Extraordinary…connected completely with the text…” Chicago Tribune) performing The Serpent.

Barrett Sills performs on Baroque cello, Deborah Dunham plays violone, Alan Austin and Jonathan Godfrey play Baroque violin, Dennis Whittaker is featured on double bass, Richard Savino and Scott Horton play archlute and Dirst performs on harpsichord

Produced by Keith Weber and engineered by Shannon Smith, the disc includes a free downloadable bonus track that is also available at www.classicsonline.com. (Customers can purchase the CD wherever classical music is sold, at all Ars Lyrica concerts and events, online at www.arslyricahouston.org and through www.classicsonline.com.)