Francesco Cavalli (1602-76) is a central figure in the history of 17th c. Italian music. He showed his talent as an opera as well as a sacred music composer, though the number of his known, extant sacred works is relatively small for the times in which he lived. His 1675 collection of Vesperi a 8 voci, dedicated to the Doge Niccolò Sagredo, consisting of three different Vespers, is here offered in world premiere recordings by the "La Pifarescha" Instrumental Ensemble, the "Claudio Monteverdi" Choir of Crema, led by Bruno Gini, it's founder and conductor, and organist Alberto Dossena.