Vanitas Vanitatum: Rome 1650

Released in 1996 by the TELDEC label, Vanitas Vanitatum: Rome 1650 features the early music ensemble Tragicomedia, directed by Stephen Stubbs. The album explores the musical landscape of mid-17th-century Rome, a period defined by the dramatic shifts of the Baroque movement and the influence of the Papal courts. The repertoire focuses on the transition from the Renaissance polyphonic tradition to the expressive, vocal-centric styles that began to flourish in Italian urban centers during this era.

The ensemble, known for their focus on the continuo and intimate historical instrumentation, sought to capture the melancholic and ephemeral themes suggested by the title's reference to Ecclesiastes. Critics of the time praised the record for its technical precision and the atmospheric cohesion of its program, which includes works by composers such as Luigi Rossi and Giacomo Carissimi. It remains a notable entry in the late 20th-century movement to bring historical performance practice to a broader audience.