I Musici: Vivaldi 25 Concerti - Philips 6747 395 (5LP cloth box), as new
$
245
Favourite Auctions
To save auctions to your favourites, please login
If you don't have an account, please register
Description
ITEM DESCRIPTION:
This outstanding 5LP box set – a truly beautiful collector’s copy – from Philips (6747 395, Dutch pressing, blue/white labels, stereo, booklet included) entitled “Vivaldi · 25 Concerti · I Musici” features a lavish tribute to the great composer, with 25 brilliant performances, all housed in a gorgeous heavy cloth box with silver lettering.
Of all the major labels – DG, Decca, EMI, Columbia, et al. – none have done such devoted service to Vivaldi’s music and this wonderful collection gathers together some of the finest recordings in Philips’ back catalog, all with the magnificent crack Italian ensemble, I Musici.
Moreover, these performances boast several of the leading Italian violinists of the day: Felix Ayo, Salvatore Accardo, Roberto Michelucci, and Pina Carmirelli.
A note on the production values of this set: The 5 LPs (blue/white labels pressed in Holland) are housed in a deluxe heavy cloth box with bright silver lettering. Also included is an equally handsome full-size, 12-page booklet replete with 3 large photos of I Musici, each identifying all of the players, as well as an extended tribute to I Musici written by Ekkehard Kroher – all texts are provided in Italian, English, German, and French.
Included then are the following Concerti by Vivaldi:
Le Quattro Stagioni (The Four Seasons) Op. 8, from 'The Trial of Harmony and Invention'
No. 1 in E Major "Primavera" RV 269
No. 2 in G minor "L'estate" RV 315
No. 3 in F Major "L'autumno" RV 293
No. 4 in F minor "L'inverno" RV 297
> all the above with violinist Roberto Michelucci
5 Concerti con Titulo
“La tempesta di mare” · Violin Concerto in E-flat Major Op. 8 No. 5 RV 253
“Il piacere” · Violin Concerto in C Major Op. 8 No. 6 RV 180
“La caccia” · Violin Concerto in B-flat Major Op. 8 No. 10 RV 362
>all the above with violinist Felix Ayo
“Il favorito” · Violin Concerto in E minor Op. 11 No. 2 RV 277
> the above with violinist Roberto Michelucci
“L’amoroso” · Violin Concerto in E Major RV 271
> the above with violinist Pina Carmirelli
4 Concerti con Violino Obbligato da “L’Estro Armonico” RV 310
Concerto No. 3 in G Major RV 310
Concerto No. 6 in A minor RV 356
Concerto No. 9 in D Major RV 230
Concerto No. 12 in E Major RV 265
> all the above with violinist Roberto Michelucci
6 Concerto per Violino, Archi e Basso Continuo (Organo) da “La Stravaganza” Op. 4
Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Major RV 383a
Concerto No. 2 in E minor RV 279
Concerto No. 3 in G Major RV 301
Concerto No. 4 in A minor RV 357
Concerto No. 5 in A Major RV 347
Concerto No. 6 in G minor RV 316a
> all the above with violinist Felix Ayo, cellist (obbligato) Enzo Altobelli, and organist Maria Teresa Garatti
6 Concerto per Violino, Archi e Basso Continuo Op. 7
Concerto No. 2 in C Major RV 188
Concerto No. 3 in G minor RV 326
Concerto No. 5 in F Major RV 285a
Concerto No. 10 in F Major RV 294a
Concerto No. 11 in D Major RV 208a
Concerto No. 12 in D Major RV 214
> all the above with violinist Salvatore Accardo and harpsichordist Maria Teresa Garatti
-------------------------------
One can find this eloquent appreciation of I Musici by Meredith Gailey at ArkivMusic: “After hearing I Musici perform, Arturo Toscanini remarked, "Twelve individual instrumental masters, and together the finest chamber orchestra in the world." This Italian ensemble has long attracted international attention for their emphasis on brilliance, strength of attack, and high level of discipline, beginning with their first performances of seventeenth and eighteenth century Italian music. The group was formed in March 1952 by 12 students at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Rome, who developed a common interest in pre-Classical music during conservatory meetings. Upon origination the ensemble was composed of six violins, two violas, two cellos, a double bass, and a harpsichord; there were three women and nine men. Nearly all of the original violinists were pupils of the same Accademia teacher, Remy Principe. The name "I Musici," literally "The Musicians," was chosen by the performers to reflect their enthusiasm for the spirit of the music of an epoch in which "professionalism" had not yet assumed its present pervasive significance. They came together with the single purpose of expressing their deep love for music, and the purity of their intention is heard at performances and on recordings.
“Making their debut performance at the Accademia in 1952, I Musici began to achieve international fame the following year. Their career developed rapidly, beginning with concert tours throughout Europe. They then toured Central, North and South America, South Africa, Japan, and Australia. They have also played at many music festivals, including those of Salzburg, Holland, Graz, Menton, Venice, York, Copenhagen, Aix-en-Provence, and Edinburgh. Early in their career, they primarily played the music of Italian Baroque composers such as Albinoni, Bononcini, Corelli, Locatelli, Alessandro Scarlatti, Torelli, and Vivaldi, later taking on the non-Baroque works of Bach, Barber, Bartók, Britten, Handel, Hindemith, Martin, and Respighi. One of the most characteristic (and widely influential) features of the ensemble is its lack of a conductor during performance. Felix Ayo, leader of the group between 1952-1968, has said that "to perform without a conductor is normal, I think. It is in the true tradition of the élite music of the Italian Baroque. One finds a conductor only later, after Vivaldi and Corelli. Before, with the concerto grosso and the concerto da camera, there was only the first violin giving the start and tempo with some head movements. And that was all." Among I Musici, Ayo said, music making is a democratic experience. "During rehearsals, the music is discussed by everyone. Everyone's opinion has the same value. It is by mutual agreement that we finally decide how certain details should be handled." The group does have a leader, however; the post has changed hands over the years between Ayo, Roberto Michelucci (1968-1972); conductor, music director, and virtuoso violinist Salvatore Accardo (1972-1977); Boccherini Quintet and Carmirelli Quartet founder Pina Carmirelli (1977-1986); and Federico Agostini.
I Musici over the years has constantly built upon its strengths, and the group members to apply the same dedication to their artistry as they did upon formation. Their performances can be heard on over 45 recordings, almost all under the Philips label, at times with flute and harp.”
-------------------------------
CONDITION:
The gradations of condition I use are as follows: MINT, Near-Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.
The condition of the box is near-MINT. There is very slight fading along the spine, but that is all. Otherwise, the box appears as new. There are no seamsplits, corner breaks, bends, or other defects and the box remains solid, bright, and highly attractive in appearance – overall, a truly fine collector's copy.
The condition of the full-size, 12-page booklet is near-MINT. Again, there are really no faults and the book appears as new.
The condition of the 5 LPs is near-MINT throughout; in fact, I believe these are unplayed copies. In any case, all 5 rate as superlative collector's copies.
PLEASE NOTE:The images I've provided are of the actual item you are potentially bidding on - these are not stock images or images I've taken from other sites. Bid with confidence!
PAYMENT:
Payment by PayPal is greatly preferred. Payment should be made within 7 days.
SHIPPING:
Shipping is free to anywhere in the world; this is true regardless of the number of LPs you buy, be it 1 or a 100. All LPs will be sent via standard airmail (7-10 days delivery). Note: There is no tracking number provided with standard airmail. Should you wish to have your item(s) sent via certified airmail (i.e., with a tracking number), please contact me. The fee for this $5.00 USD.
FEEDBACK:
I will promptly leave feedback for all buyers. Please do not leave negative, or even neutral, feedback without first giving me an opportunity to resolve any dissatisfaction you might have with an item or transaction. I do understand that, on occasion, a buyer might believe the item description to be inaccurate or that a buyer may be disappointed in some other way regarding the sale. I promise I will do my very best to resolve any unhappiness you've experienced in your buying experience with me to your complete satisfaction. Thank you.
REFUNDS:
Returns are honored, and any buyer you makes a return will be refunded in full. Please contact me before making a return.
Please see my other classical LP and CD auctions, and feel free to write with any questions, I'll be glad to help.
