Il Giardino Armonico's CD (Teldec 4509-91182-2) is a collection of masterpieces. Particularly delightful is the C Major Concerto for Diverse Instruments (RV 558).
Leonard Bernstein and some musicians from the New York Philharmonic recorded RV 558 back in 1959 on modern instruments with no clue as to authentic Baroque performance practice. In the slow movements of the concerti, they actually held strictly to the notes on the printed page! They were unaware that Baroque performance practice was closer to jazz than the 19th Century tradition. In spite of the problems, this recording was a "must have" until the period instrument movement began in earnest in the late 1960's.
The Il Giardino Armonico recording utilizes authentic performance practice, but most importantly the musicians play "extinct" instruments utilized during the period where the Renaissance yielded slowly to the Baroque. Most times, these instruments only get played by Renaissance groups like the Baltimore Consort. (Marc-Antoine Charpentier's Christmas Midnight Mass from this era is another example of crossover, best shown in the Minkowski recording.)
It's wonderful to hear it played right!
Thanks again for the suggestion.