Corelli: 12 Concerti Grossi, Op. 6

satisfied

Pinnock captures the full grandeur of Corelli's conception in these wonderful concertos. There is some lovely concertino playing from Standage, Micaela Comberti and Jaap Ter Linden but the music-making never becomes sentimental. Listen to the final movement of the "Christmas" concerto, for instance. We are meant to be reminded of the drone of the shepherds' bagpipes, and The English Concert captures this sound perfectly, while still remaining lovely to listen to.

Arcangelo Corelli is a Founding Father of Baroque music and Pinnock offers an almost patriotic fervour in this performance of his finest work. Certainly, Pinnock's deep scholarship is reflected in his manner of presenting Corelli. In this early example of the original instrument genre, the English Concert gives an enchanting presentation of 17th Century music. It's a captivating performance, leading the listener to a historical journey to Corelli's time. One could almost feel it's the master himself leading a group of musicians in a villa salon. Pinnock's control of the music and performers comes through, but their collective joy in performing Corelli's work is plainly evident. The sound penetrates the listener, lifting the spirit with the Baroque era's discovery of that musical power.Compiling a list of indispensable music brought a re-awareness of the value of this CD. Having purchased the original release on LP, then tape [for backup] and finally the digital version, the ongoing value of this release is firmly apparent. With the ability to compare the three formats directly, it demonstrates the sound quality of the CD issue as superior. Anyone who wishes to understand why the Baroque was such a revolutionary era in musical expression would do well to begin by obtaining this fine collection.

This is an excellent collection of twelve concerti grossi by Arcangelo Corelli. This recording hooked me on to baroque music for life. I recommend this recording to anyone who loves "classical" music and this collection is a must have for a baroque fan. The musicianship of Trevor Pinock and the English Concert is stellar. This is baroque music at its finest.