The true origins of Italian bel canto lie in the Baroque period. On this album, Cecilia Bartoli traces the path from Rossini and Bellini to the music of Handel, among others. It is a personal selection of her most favorite recordings, supplemented with two previously unreleased arias from Handel's Alcina. Featuring duets with Sir Bryn Terfel, Alessandro Corbelli, Sumi Jo, Juan Diego Florez, and Luciano Pavarotti, among others.