“This splendid and authoritative recital by Elissa Edwards and Richard Kolb...[they] respond to the sheer pleasures of aching emotions, vague desires, delightful comedy and quick-moving, intense melodrama with playing of sheer physical beauty and close attention to the texts, whether Edwards’s pliant, seductive, free-ranging voice or Kolb’s virtuosity.”

Laurence Vittes, Gramophone

“Vago Desio shows Kolb as a sensitive and audacious theorbo player while Edwards shines in interpretations that are gorgeously nuanced with engaging and passionate vocals.”

Sophie Bisson, theWholeNote

"Edwards...positively inhabits the drama of the text in a way Strozzi would certainly have enjoyed, while Richard Kolb accompanies with both sensitivity and gusto...It’s a wonderful recording that rewards both immediately and on repeat listening."

Karen Cook, Early Music America, EMAg

“one of the best recordings of Strozzi's music that I have heard in a long time”

Johan van Veen, MusicWeb International

"Edwards’s talents are on full display...it seems to defy gravity."

Peter V. Loewen, American Record Guide 

"Kolb shows a ravishing tone and captivating range of moods on his two instruments (an archlute and a theorbo). Soprano Elisa Edwards seems to be living the texts"

Ralph P. Locke, Arts Fuse

"The amazing performers...you’ll appreciate the many sophisticated nuances that this duo bring"

Ralph P. Locke, The Boston Musical Intelligencer

"5 stars: a delightful and brilliant interpretation of one of the major composers of the period; the music of Barbara Strozzi comes alive with grace and lyricism.  In short, this is an excellent way of showing off the originality of Strozzi’s music in a manner that probably would have elicited much approbation from the composer herself. Well worth acquiring." 

Bertil van Boer, Fanfare