While a strong case can be made for Venice’s musical dominance in the seventeenth century (the age of Monteverdi), mid eighteenth century Venice was a musical epicenter that drew thousands of European tourists to sample its musical riches. Violinist Adrian Chandler leads La Serenissima in Venice By Night, a fascinating exploration of the musical currents coursing through the floating city.

Since they perform this music so well, Chandler and La Serenissima could have strung together a group of Vivaldi and Albinoni concertos and made a pleasing survey album of Baroque Venetian music. But this is an ensemble known for its innovative programming and that’s just what we have on Venice By Night. Chandler has arranged the program thematically, focusing on the various evening musical entertainments that would have been available in the city. Of course there’s Vivaldi and Albinoni, but also some delicious canzoni di batello (songs sung in large gondolas), and world premiere recordings of an instrumental work by the always-dazzling Veracini, a breathtaking motet by Lotti and rarities by Carlo Francesco Pollarolo and Giovanna Porta.

The performances are outstanding. Soprano Mhairi Lawson’s sings the three anonymous canzoni di batello elegantly and with just the right sense of innocence. I wish she would make an entire album of them. Her performance of the Lotti motet showcases some virtuoso technique, especially in the ecstatic Alleluja that closes the work. Like I said earlier, there are works by Vivaldi and Albinoni, but they are somewhat off the beaten path. Bassoonist Peter Whelan’s fluid trills dazzle in the Vivaldi Concerto in C, while trumpeter Simon Munday’s journeys to the upper stratosphere make Albinoni’s Sinfonia to Il nome glorioso in terra a thriller. On more familiar ground there’s a gorgeous performance of the Vivaldi Violin Concerto in E minor where the soloist (Chandler?) weds virtuosity and expression.

Avie engineer Simon Fox-Gál takes a nice, natural aural snapshot of the group with plenty of detail and presence. If you don’t know La Serenissima, you really need to and Venice by Night is a great introduction.