Biographies
& Reviews
In 1952 twelve young and
promising Italian musicians, mainly Roman, and mostly graduates of the
master-classes at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia, got together “inter pares”
to create a unique chamber orchestra comprised of six violins, two violas, two
celli, one double bass and one harpsichord, with the intent of revitalizing the
string repertory, particularly that of the Italian composers of the “settecento”.
They called themselves simply “I
MUSICI” ("The Musicians" in the Italian of the 18th century) and they decided
very deliberately to shape an ensemble without conductor. They did so in order
to create an egalitarian relationship among the twelve colleagues and friends,
which would bring to their music-making a unanimity on technical and
interpretative questions. It was a very unconventional but unexpectedly suitable
procedure. Notably, maestro Arturo Toscanini, on hearing them rehearsing in
April 1952 at the Italian Radio studios, enthused over the young orchestra in
front of journalists and musical personalities, and dedicated his photograph to
the group with the words “bravi, bravissimi …no! la musica non muore”.
(bravo, the music will not die)
A few weeks earlier, on the 30th
of March 1952, their public debut was an enormous success at the Accademia di
Santa Cecilia; it was the starting point of an astonishing career, which in a
short time catapulted them to the ranks of the great international performers.
I MUSICI’s remarkable quality
has always been, since its beginning, to extract from its ensemble all the
required soloists – individually and in diverse instrumental combinations, so
its programs offer a rich balance in styles and tonal colors.
I MUSICI has an astonishing list
of recordings – from the first 33 rpm LP’s to modern CD’s – enriched on several
occasions by the collaboration of renowned wind virtuosi (Severino Gazzelloni,
Frans Bruggen, Aurèle Nicolet, Maxence Larrieux, Heinz Holliger, Maurice Bourgue,
Klaus Thunemann, Marco Constantini, Maurice André, Häkan
Hardenberger, Guy Touvron,
Bernard Soustrot) and awarded many times with prizes:
-
Grand Prix de l’Académie
Charles Cros
-
Grand Prix International du
Disque
-
Edison Award
-
Deutsche Schallplattenpreis
-
Grand Prix des Discophiles
Their masterful interpretation
of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons is a perennial best-seller and was an important part
of the Baroque revival. It has been recorded in six successive versions
(PHILIPS):
|
1955 |
soloist: Félix Ayo |
LP33 Mono |
|
1959 |
soloist: Felix Ayo |
LP33 Stereo |
|
1969 |
soloist: Roberto
Michelucci |
LP33 Stereo |
|
1982 |
soloist: Pina Carmirelli |
CD |
|
1990 |
soloist: Federico
Agostini |
CD, VHS & Laser Disc Video |
|
1995 |
soloist: Mariana Sirbu |
CD bitstream |
Today I MUSICI’s recording
production is a huge collection of compositions from authors of the 18th,
19th and 20th Centuries.
The present formation (with
their instruments) is:
|
Violins: |
|
|
Antonio Salvatore |
Giov. Batt. Guadagnini –
1751 Milan |
|
Antonio Pérez |
Floreno Guidantus – 1736
Bologna |
|
Antonio Anselmi |
Giov. Gagliano – 1730
Napoli |
|
Claudio Buccarella |
Giov. Batt. Ceruti –
1796 Cremona |
|
Pasquale Pellegrino |
Paolo Antonio Testore –
1720 Milan |
|
Gian Luca
Apostoli |
G. Gagliano,
Napoli – 1732 Napoli |
|
Violas: |
|
|
Massimo Paris |
Pietro Guarnieri -1697 Montua |
|
Silvio Di Rocco |
Lorenzo e Tomaso Carcassi – 1748 Florence |
|
Celli: |
|
|
Francesco Strano |
Carlo Tononi – 1730
Venice |
|
Vito Paternóster |
Lorenzo Carcassi – 1780
Florence |
|
Bass: |
|
|
Lucio Buccarella |
Antonio Mariani – 1678
Pesaro |
|
Harpsichord: |
|
|
Francesco Buccarella
Garatti |
Fred Bettenhausen – 1993
Haarlem |
|
|
(copy: Ruckers; on tour,
as provided by concert hall) |
The chamber playing art of I
MUSICI has been patent for half a century: total dedication, respect for the
style and taste of each composer and, at the same time, a free interpretative
liberty alien to any academic dogmatism. With these qualities I MUSICI develops
and narrates the aspirations, sentiments and emotions of those composers who
lived in an epoch full of conventions and bonds, but who nevertheless transmit
through their sublime art a universal and eternal message.
I Musici is pronounced "ee MOOZ-ee-chee"
Review Quotes
I Musici became one of the great
brand names of classical music thanks to the international popularity of new
vinyl LP records…. The celebrated energy, discipline, tonal glow remain”
The Boston Globe, March 6, 2006
“The performances were plenty
rousing and provided an excellent demonstration of how to make a conductor
superfluous. Musicians listened keenly and watched the physical nuances of their
fellow players. The result was enchanting”
The Toledo Blade, March 3, 2006
“the brilliant ensemble and
subtly handled dynamics of this renowned group, which has defined the art of
string-playing for more than 50 years.”
Rocky Mountain News, Denver September 21, 2005
“the inimitable sound of those
ancient instruments — impossibly suave and golden — in hands that are infallibly
precise yet free and spontaneous gave the music a special luminosity. I’ve heard
these works many times, but never with such zest, freshness and buoyancy.”
The Reading Eagle, March 10, 2006
“I Musici earns standing
ovations with powerful playing”
(headline) The Cincinnati
Enquirer, March 23, 2002
“’Great Music in a Great
Space.’ This is how the Cathedral Music Society describes its concert
series…Finally, truth in advertising.”
The Cincinnati Enquirer, March
23, 2002
“The group lives up to its
recordings. This deft dozen are conductorless, but members looked to - and got
- strong leadership…The group has a bright, bouncy sound whose ensemble unity
almost never falters.”
The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 27, 2002
“With an unaffected elegance
they play like musical aristocrats, conveying a bit of family history in finely
burnished tones…their playing sings effortlessly in that special way the Italian
sun seems to generate.”
Albuquerque Journal, March 18, 2002
“I Musici lives up to world
reputation - Ensemble shows mastery of baroque”
(headline) The News Tribune,
Tacoma, October 23, 2000
“played an evenly excellent
concert to a nearly full house”
The News Tribune, Tacoma,
October 23, 2000
“a near-capacity audience in the
Kennedy Center Concert Hall loved every minute of it…an excellent interpretation
- a classic, preserved not only on records and in live performance but also in
the hearts of thousands - perhaps millions.”
The Washington Post, December 8,
1997
“There are cigars and there are
Cuban Cohibas. There are red wines and there are Chateau Lafite Rothschilds.
And there are performances of The Four Seasons and there is I Musici’s Four
Seasons.” The
Palm Beach Post, December 12, 1997
"consistently stylish champion
of modern instrument Baroque performances for the last 40 years, the Italian
string players of I Musici brought their individual brand of music-making to
Orchestra Hall"
Chicago Tribune, December 7, 1995
"the vigor, dimension,
sensitivity and sheer muscular energy of these performances were both novel and
bracing." The
Washington Post, December 12, 1995
"the Rome-based ensemble… tore
into and delivered an astonishing performance of Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons.'"
Los Angeles
Times, January 28, 1994
"The group's peformance on
Sunday afternoon was energetic, lush in texture and largely note
perfect…virtuosity on display”
The New York Times, January 25,
1994
“I MUSICI are ever since a model
for all similar groups. They play without a conductor and each member is a
soloist –it means that every performance they give is a true expression
spontaneous and meticulously polished of the talent of 12 artists- In every
style they bring the essential impulse of life- the result is playing of verve,
stylistic purity and impeccable artistry- One is constantly impressed by their
ability to achieve the full sonority of a string orchestra without sacrificing
the clarity and the utter precision of a string quartet – I MUSICI achieve the
most delicate nuances of shading, of balance, of phrasing, Never does the
rhythmic impulse falter, never is a note out of place.”
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Reviews
|
Soloists add
flare to I Musici's return
By Richard Dyer,
Globe Staff | March 6, 2006
Back in the 1950s
the Italian string ensemble I Musici became one of the great
brand names of classical music thanks to the international
popularity of new vinyl LP records -- I Musici played a major role
in making Vivaldi's ''The Four Seasons" as popular as it remains
today. It has recorded the piece six times.
The group first
appeared for the Celebrity Series 51 years ago, but its appearances
here have been infrequent. When the Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg
canceled its American tour because of sponsorship problems, I Musici
took over the dates.
The group offered
half a program of Mozart, with British pianist Stephen Hough as
soloist in the Piano Concerto in E-flat, K. 449. This was Hough's
most convincing New England solo appearance to date; he played with
dapper aplomb, elegant phrasing, and a lovely, almost-vocal, quality
of tone. The Italian string players, all male in the current
configuration, provided something more than a mere backdrop, and
then gave a lively large-scale account of the ''Serenata notturna,"
which sounded industrial strength, although there were only 12
players.
The first half was
devoted to Italian music. Rossini was represented by both ends of
his career, a tuneful Sonata for Strings that he composed at 12 and
four charming little pieces that he composed late in life and called
''Sins of My Old Age." These were arranged by I Musici cellist Vito
Paternoster as a mini-concerto with himself as a witty soloist.
''Figaro!" by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (the composition teacher of
Andre Previn and John Williams) is a nifty arrangement of Figaro's
famous aria from ''The Barber of Seville" for viola and strings.
Silvio Di Rocco played it with dash, and one of the
violinists momentarily burst into baritone song. Violinist Antonio
Anselmi, looking by far the youngest member of the ensemble, was
a brilliant soloist in Paganini's Variations on ''Carnival of
Venice." His below-the-shoulder hair made him look a little like
photographs of Paganini himself, and he
tore through all the daredevil stunts with an acrobat's balance and
bravado.
I Musici's program
bio said its approach has been ''unchanging" for half a century,
which is true. The celebrated energy, discipline, tonal glow
remain© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company. |
|
Article
published March 3, 2006
BGSU Mozart evening enchants
By
STEVEN CORNELIUS
BLADE MUSIC CRITIC
The upshot of this
being the 250th anniversary of Wolfgang Mozart's birth is that
classical music ensembles everywhere are performing truckloads of
his music. This is a wonderful development. As the season unfolds it
seems that there is no such thing as too much Mozart, especially in
a world as wounded as ours today. Mozart's music heals; of that I am
certain.
A pair of serenades
bracketed last night's all-Mozart performance by the string ensemble
I Musici di Roma at Bowling Green State University's Kobacker Hall.
In between was sandwiched a piano concerto and a divertimento. It
was generally an evening of music for light entertainment, though
British pianist Stephen Hough presented a lovely and thoughtfully
nuanced reading of Piano Concerto No. 14 in Eb Major.
This is the second
area appearance of the season for the statuesque Hough. He presented
an all-Mozart solo recital last fall in the Toledo Museum of Art
Peristyle. Invariably, the ever-inward pianist manages to play with
razor-like precision while remaining astutely flexible to ideas that
are presented as if they have arrived spontaneously in the moment.
Listening to such playing is a revelation.
No. 14 marks the
beginning of the creative burst for Mozart. It is the first of four
piano concertos that the composer wrote in the early months of 1784.
It also marks a turning point, as it was the last concerto for which
Mozart wrote parts for wind instruments that, at the musicians'
discretion, could be included or not. Last night, they were not.
Hough treated the
opening movement with emotional breadth and stability. The finale,
in which piano and orchestra spin musical dialogue one to the other
in comic opera fashion, danced with an abundance of wattage.
Founded in 1952,
I Musici is known for its clean touch and versatility. Both were in
evidence last night, particularly in the second half, which featured
the Divertimento in D Major (written when the composer was just 16
years old) and the famous serenade "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" (which
the Polish Chamber Orchestra performed Monday evening at the
Stranahan Theater). The performances were plenty rousing and
provided an excellent demonstration of how to make a conductor
superfluous. Musicians listened keenly and watched the physical
nuances of their fellow players. The result was enchanting.
Contact Steven
Cornelius |
|
Rocky Mountain
News,
Denver
Fun night for
every taste
I Musici kicks
off second Festival Italiano with bang
By Marc Shulgold, Rocky
Mountain News
September 21, 2005
Tuesday's concert by I Musici
in Gates Concert Hall started with a bang and ended with another
bang. What's that?, I hear you ask. But isn't the Italian chamber
group an all-strings ensemble? Right
you are - but that just goes to show what sort of a night it was.
This kickoff to the second annual
Festival Italiano began with an appearance by the drummers,
trumpeters, flag-wavers and flag-tossers of the Sbandieratori, a
delightful group in full traditional costume, flown in from
Florence, Italy, for the weeklong festival.
Once the dozen members of I Musici took
the stage, it was time for a delectable night of easily digested
works for strings.
The first half was all-Vivaldi, while
the second half consisted of familiar bon-bons from Italy and beyond
- ending with a toe-tapping Tarantella that culminated with
Francesco Strano leaving his cello to stroll around the stage with
drum in hand, tapping away in time to the music.
Nothing particularly cerebral, nothing too obscure.
Just a fun night of familiar tunes tailored
for nearly every musical taste.
The second half, titled La Danza,
served up favorites such as the Boccherini Minuet, the finale to
Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik, the Waltz from Tchaikovsky's
C-major Serenade, Piazzolla's Libertango and the Danza
Spagnola by Falla.
This greatest-hits collection left at
least one listener longing for something with a bit more substance
and daring.
It was a pleasant little grouping
nonetheless, highlighted by Antonio Anselmi's virtuosic way with
Paganini's Variations on Carnival of Venice (the lanky,
long-haired violinist played with the razzle-dazzle of Paganini
- and even looked like him).
Before intermission, I Musici presented
"The Many Colors of Vivaldi." We're not sure what those colors are,
since (to these ears, at least) one concerto pretty much sounds like
another.
Yes, there was variety - starting off
with a clever little echo concerto in which Anselmi delivered the
on-stage solos, while Gianluca Apostoli answered from behind the
stage shell. It was cute . . . for the first five minutes.
Then, there was a recorder concerto,
The Goldfinch, played on sopranino recorder by violist Silvio Di
Rocco. It, too, was cute . . . for the first two minutes.
The Vivaldi set ended with two of the
Four Seasons, in which soloist Antonio Salvatore and the
ensemble delivered Spring and Winter with such
authority and command that you'd think they had played them a couple
of hundred times. Which, of course, they had.
This concert was the equivalent of the
first course in an Italian meal - the one before the meat
arrives.
Still, there was no denying the
brilliant ensemble and subtly handled dynamics of this renowned
group, which has defined the art of string-playing for more than 50
years. |
The
Philadelphia Inquirer (click to enlarge)
Cincinnati
Enquirer (click to enlarge)
Albuquerque
Journal (click to enlarge)
Programs
I MUSICI -
U.S.A. TOUR OCTOBER 2008 – PROGRAMS
Subject to
Change
|
PROGRAM A |
A Feast of the Red Priest!
Vivaldi Favorites and Forgotten Gems
|
|
Antonio Vivaldi |
Concerto in B flat Maj. for
strings and continuo Rv 163, “Conca”
Allegro,
Andante, Allegro |
| |
Concerto in f min.
op.8 n.4 for violin, strings and continuo Rv 297, “Winter”
Allegro non
molto, Largo, Allegro
soloist: Antonio
Salvatore, violin |
| |
Concerto in A Maj. violin, strings
and continuo Rv 335, “Il Cucu`”
Allegro,
Largo, Allegro
soloist: Antonio
Anselmi, violin |
| |
Concerto in D Maj. op.3 n. 1 for
four violins, strings and continuo Rv 549
Allegro,
Largo, Allegro
soloists:
Antonio Salvatore, Pasquale Pellegrino, Gianluca Apostoli,
Claudio Buccarella, violins |
|
Interval |
|
|
Antonio Vivaldi |
Concerto in D Maj. op 8 n. 11 for
violin, strings and continuo Rv 210
Allegro,
Largo, Allegro
soloist: Antonio
Salvatore, violin |
| |
Concerto in G min.
for two cellos, strings and continuo Rv 531
Allegro,
Andante, Allegro
soloists: Vito
Paternoster, Pietro Bosna, cellos |
| |
Concerto in A min.
op.3 n. 8 for two violins, strings and continuo, Rv 522
Allegro ,
Larghetto, Allegro
soloists:
Antonio Anselmi, Gianluca Apostoli, violins |
| |
Concerto in sol magg. “Alla
Rustica” for strings and continuo, Rv 151
Presto,
Adagio, Allegro |
|
PROGRAM B |
Fiesta Italiana
Great Italian Composers from Vivaldi to Respighi
|
|
Tomaso Albinoni |
Sonata a cinque in G min. op. 2 n.
6
Adagio,
Allegro, Grave, Allegro |
|
Benedetto Marcello |
“Introduzione, Aria e Presto” for
strings and continuo |
|
Ottorino Respighi |
“Antiche Arie e Danze” for
strings, suite n.3
Italiana, Arie
di corte, Siciliana, Passacaglia |
|
Interval |
|
|
Antonio Vivaldi |
“The Four Seasons”
soloist: Antonio Salvatore,
violin |
|
PROGRAM B1 (‘stealth option’) |
Fiesta Italiana
Great Italian Composers from Vivaldi to Respighi |
|
Tomaso Albinoni |
Sonata a cinque in G min. op. 2 n.
6
Adagio,
Allegro, Grave, Allegro |
|
Benedetto Marcello |
“Introduzione, Aria e Presto” for
strings and continuo |
|
Ottorino Respighi |
“Antiche Arie e Danze” for
strings, suite n.3 |
| |
Italiana, Arie
di corte, Siciliana, Passacaglia |
|
Interval |
|
|
Antonio Vivaldi |
Concerto in F Maj. for contralto
recorder archi e continuo Rv 442
Allegro,
Largo, Allegro
soloist: Silvio
Di Rocco, recorder |
| |
Concerto in B flat
Maj. for violin, cello, strings and continuo Rv 547
Allegro,
Andante, Allegro molto
soloists:
Antonio Salvatore, violin - Vito Paternoster, cello |
| |
Sinfonia in G Maj.
for strings and continuo Rv 149
Allegro molto,
Andante, Allegro |
| |
Concerto in re minore,
op.3 n. for two violin, cello, strings and continuo Rv 565
Allegro,
Adagio e Spiccato, Allegro, Largo, Allegro
soloists:
Antonio Salvatore, Marco Serino, violins - Vito Paternoster,
cello |
|
Programma C |
Go to the Devil and Back
Madness, a curse, a dark trill…and the Seasons
|
|
Francesco Geminiani |
Variations on Arcangelo Corelli’s
theme “La Follìa”, for strings and continuo |
|
Giuseppe Tartini |
“Il Trillo del Diavolo”, for
violin, strings and continuo
soloist: Antonio Anselmi, violin |
|
Franz Liszt |
“Malediction”, for
piano and strings
soloist: Francesco Buccarella-Garatti |
|
Interval |
|
|
Antonio Vivaldi |
Concerto in F Maj. for contralto
recorder archi e continuo Rv 442
Allegro,
Largo, Allegro
soloist: Silvio
Di Rocco, recorder |
| |
Concerto in B flat
Maj. for violin, cello, strings and continuo Rv 547
Allegro,
Andante, Allegro molto
soloists:
Antonio Salvatore, violin - Vito Paternoster, cello |
| |
Sinfonia in G Maj.
for strings and continuo Rv 149
Allegro molto,
Andante, Allegro |
| |
Concerto in re minore, op.3 n. for
two violin, cello, strings and continuo
Rv 565
Allegro,
Adagio e Spiccato, Allegro, Largo, Allegro
soloists:
Antonio Salvatore, Marco Serino, violins - Vito Paternoster,
cello |
I
Musici Discography
Title:
12 Concerti Grossi (2 CDs)
Composers: Geminiani
Artists: I Musici
International release: October 1993
Catalogue number:438766
Series: Duo
Label: Philips
Title:
12 CONCERTI OP.3 L'ESTRO ARMONICO
Composers: Vivaldi
Artists: I Musici
International release:
Catalogue number:426933
Series: Collector's Edition
Label: Philips
Title:
12 CONCERTI OP.3 L'ESTRO ARMONICO
Composers: Vivaldi
Artists: I Musici
International release:
Catalogue number:426934
Series: Collector's Edition
Label: Philips
Title:
12 CONCERTI OP.4 LA STRAVAGANZA
Composers: Vivaldi
Artists: I Musici
International release:
Catalogue number:426936
Series: Collector's Edition
Label: Philips
Title:
12 CONCERTI OP.4 LA STRAVAGANZA
Composers: Vivaldi
Artists: I Musici
International release:
Catalogue number:426937
Series: Collector's Edition
Label: Philips
Title:
12 SONATE OP.1
Composers: Vivaldi
Artists: I Musici
International release:
Catalogue number:426928
Series: Collector's Edition
Label: Philips
Title:
12 SONATE OP.1
Composers: Vivaldi
Artists: I Musici
International release:
Catalogue number:426927
Series: Collector's Edition
Label: Philips
Title:
12 SONATE OP.2
Composers: Vivaldi
Artists: I Musici
International release:
Catalogue number:426930
Series: Collector's Edition
Label: Philips
Title:
12 SONATE OP.2
Composers: Vivaldi
Artists: I Musici
International release:
Catalogue number:426931
Series: Collector's Edition
Label: Philips
Title:
6 CONCERTI OP.6
Composers: Vivaldi
Artists: I Musici
International release:
Catalogue number:426939
Series: Collector's Edition
Label: Philips
Title:
6 Oboe Concertos
Composers: Albinoni
Artists: Heinz Holliger/Maurice Bourgue, Maurice Bourgue, I Musici
International release: February 1992
Catalogue number:434157
Label: Philips
Title:
6 SONATE OP.5
Composers: Vivaldi
Artists: I Musici
International release:
Catalogue number:426938
Series: Collector's Edition
Label: Philips
Title:
Adagio/Eine Kleine Nachtmusik/Serenade/Minuets
etc.
Composers: Albinoni/Pachelbel/Mozart/Haydn etc.
Artists: Pina Carmirelli, I Musici
International release: July 1983
Catalogue number:410606
Label: Philips
Title:
Brandenburg Concertos/Violin Concertos (2 CDs)
Composers: Bach, J.S.
Artists: Roberto Michelucci, I Musici
International release: April 1993
Catalogue number:438317
Series: Duo
Label: Philips
Title:
Complete Concertos Op.5 & 7 (2 CDs)
Composers: Albinoni
Artists: Carmirelli, Vittorio Negri, I Musici/Berlin Chamber Orchestra
International release: October 1999
Catalogue number:464052
Series: Duo
Label: Philips
Title:
Complete Flute Concertos (2 CDs)
Composers: Vivaldi
Artists: Severino Gazzellino/I Musici
International release: September 1996
Catalogue number:454256
Series: Duo
Label: Philips
Title:
Concerti Grossi, Op. 6 (2 CDs)
Composers: Corelli
Artists: I Musici
International release: August 1997
Catalogue number:456326
Series: Duo
Label: Philips
Title:
Famous Classical Trumpet Concertos (2 CDs)
Composers: Haydn/Hertel/Hummel/Stamitz etc
Artists: Hakan Hardenberger, Sir Neville Marriner/Elgar Howarth/Simon Preston, I
Musici/The Academy of St.Martin-in-the-Fields/LPO
International release: October 1999
Catalogue number:464028
Series: Duo
Label: Philips
Title:
L'Estro Armonico Op.3 (2 CDs)
Composers: Vivaldi
Artists: I Musici
International release: March 1995
Catalogue number:446169
Series: Duo
Label: Philips
Title:
Oboe Concertos
Composers: Marcello/Sammartini/Albinoni
Artists: Heinz Holliger, I Musici
International release: November 1987
Catalogue number:420189
Label: Philips
Title:
The Best of Handel (2 CDs)
Composers: Handel
Artists: Presti/Baker/Lagoya/Holliger etc., Marriner/Davis/Leppard/Haitink etc.,
I Musici etc.
International release: February 1996
Catalogue number:454029
Series: Duo
Label: Philips
Title:
The Complete Concertos/Adagio for Organ & Strings
(2 CDs)
Composers: Albinoni
Artists: Felix Ayo/Heinz Holliger/Maurice Bourgue, I Musici
International release: August 1997
Catalogue number:456333
Series: Duo
Label: Philips
Title:
The Four Seasons
Composers: Vivaldi
Artists: Pina Carmirelli, I Musici
International release: September 1982
Catalogue number:410001
Label: Philips
Title:
The Four Seasons/Concerto in E, RV.271
Composers: Vivaldi
Artists: Felix Ayo, I Musici
International release: April 2001
Catalogue number:464750
Series: Philips 50th
Label: Philips
Title:
Vivaldi Edition Vol.1 - Op.1-6 (10 CDs)
Composers: Vivaldi
Artists: I Musici
International release: April 1997
Catalogue number:456185
Series: Collector's Edition
Label: Philips
Title:
Vivaldi Edition Vol.2 - Op.7-12 (9 CDs)
Composers: Vivaldi
Artists: I Musici
International release: April 1997
Catalogue number:456186
Series: Collector's Edition
Label: Philips
Personal
& Biased Comments About The Artist
In 1976 an older brother had an
LP that, he said, “You have to listen to,” and he put on I Musici’s incredibly
virtuosic Vivaldi Four Seasons. I was really stunned by the style – so
clean & crisp, and the way they moved as one. 30 years later I still recall the
feeling. Years later I learned that there were millions of listeners who had
the same experience with I Musici, and that I was a latecomer to them. It’s
hard to imagine now, but I Musici reintroduced many of the works of the Italian
Baroque to modern audiences.
Almost as impressive is the fact that I Musici remains fresh and
true to its original standards. The musicians have changed (1 remains from
1952!) and their performance style has shifted somewhat, but the essence
remains. And their audience remains, as well, thanks to their 50 years of
recordings which enjoy frequent airplay on classical radio.
Technical
Requirements
The
Concert Presenter will please provide the following:
Suitable
dressing rooms for 12, excellent harpsichord (2 manual preferred) tuned to A=440
on the day of performance, adjustable piano bench, one bass stool, 10 chairs and
11 music stands.
Hospitality: Warm and cold drinks including Mineral water, fruit juice, fruits
& cookies backstage, light snacks, during rehearsal time and concert.
Rehearsal
Time - 2 hours in concert space on day of concert; time TBD.
