Emma Kirkby and Judith Nelson later recorded a very popular album called Italian Cantatas. This is not the same, but these are also Italian Cantatas, by Händel. He wrote them early in his life, in Italy (Rome, Florence) and about thirty years later in London. They are secular, and more like songs than anything like Bach’s Cantatas.
Kirkby and Nelson are superb in these recordings. Their voices sound light and nimble as feathers. It is a delight to listen to this music, but I also just love this recording. So many times this kind of music is performed way too heavy, like it is a drag. You can hear the sheer joy the musicians have in creating this beautiful music. Like the followup album Italian Cantatas, I can wholeheartedly recommend this.