I Musici: Vivaldi 25 Concerti (incl 4 Seasons) - Philips 6747 395 (5LP box set)

Box EX- / LPs NM

Fair amount of edgewear, scuffing, and chipping to box. LPs are mostly fine, though a few have scattered tics. Priced accordingly.

This superb 5LP box set – a fine 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.

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