Customer Reviews

Corelli: Concerti Grossi Op. 6, Nos. 1 - 6

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Corelli's Concerti Grossi Op. 6 is baroque music at it's finest; tuneful, jaunty and lots of fun. If the first Concerto Grosso on this CD cannot convert you to a Corelli and Baroque fan, well, chances are nothing will. Fortunately, Naxos has recorded Op. 6 with the excellent Capella Istropolitana conducted by Jaroslav Krecheck, so we now have an superb version on modern instruments at a bargain price. So those who don't know this music can try it without risking too much capital.

The Capella Istropolitana is a very good band in both intonation and ensemble, and Krecheck's direction is both fleet and stylish. And while modern instruments are used, period performance practices are observed with regards to quick tempos and rhythmic bounce. So unless you cannot live without period instruments, this version represents an excellent hybrid of styles and is recommended without reservation.

Corelli's Concerti Grossi, Op.6 created a sensation when first performed, were the model for composers such as Handel in his own Concerti Grossi, Op. 6, and have won raves up until today.

I first heard a recording of the Corelli Concerti Grossi, Op. 6 performed by the English Concert, conducted by Trevor Pinnock.

This is glorious music. The question of whether one prefers performances on modern versus period instruments is highly subjective and a matter of taste. I tend to prefer this recording (modern instruments) - I own two period recordings: Pinnock/ English Concert, and Goodman/ Brandenburg Consort. But perhaps my greatest pleasure is seeing the reactions of friends hearing this wonderful music for the first time. Excellent performances; ditto for Concertos 7-12.

Very full, immediate sound.

Naxos has done a great service to music lovers everywhere offering this release of Corelli's Opus 6 Concerti Grossi by the Capella Istropolitana/Jaroslav Krechek, a beautiful digital recording made in 1990. The musicians of Capella Istropolitana, a large chamber orchestra made up of members of the Slovak Philharmonic, play very well here, and surpass many other recordings of these famous works. (Incidentally, Capella Istropolitana is named after a Medieval university located in Bratislava.) Capella Istropolitana is an modern, NOT period instrument ensemble, and play with appropriate vibrato, but are definitely in a Classical, Chamber type of sound for Corelli's music. They play with appropriate heft where needed, but are always on the lean side, emphasizing the delicacy of textures and sound called for by Corelli's string writing.

My high praise for Volume 1 of Corelli's Opus 6 also applies to Volume 2, by the same forces. I would get both volumes of these lovely works: there are many pleasures to be had, and for so little money you get great sound AND performances. Highly recommended!

Corelli: Concerti Grossi, Op. 6, Nos. 1-6. Capella Istropolitana, Jaroslav Krechek, conductor.

Corelli was highly regarded and much imitated in his day by younger composers like Vivaldi and Handel, both of whom studied under Corelli. Unlike most composers of his time, he wrote only instrumental works. Of those that have survived, the best known are his Op. 6 set of 12 Concerti Grossi for a concertino of two violins and cello (actually corresponding members of the viol family) against a background of strings and harpsichord continuo. The concerti were written in the late 17th Century and published shortly after Corelli's death in 1714.

The first six concerti are performed on this CD and the last six on a companion CD (NAXOS 8.550403). These six are "concerti da chiesa," meaning they are suitable for church performance. Consisting of three to five movements, they alternate slow and fast tempi, sometimes within the same movement, and feature lively counterpoint. They are all beautiful, but my favorite of these is No. 3 for its serious mien and splendid fugue.

These concerti were written for viol stringed instruments, which were designed and played differently than today's strings and sounded more mellow. Capella Istropolitana plays them with modern strings and with today's string techniques. Presumably, Baroque string playing featured detached notes, even in legato passages, and generally no vibrato. Trevor Pinnock and the English Consort, amongst others, perform in this style with period instruments.

Personally, I'm not a purist about this, and the Capella Istropolitana CD contains very good performances that may please some listeners more than the less familiar Baroque style would. In fact, it might be worth getting two versions of this wonderful music, both period and modern playing, and compare. The sound quality of this CD is excellent, with a lot of presence, the included notes are informative, and as usual, Naxos CD's are a bargain.