Christmas Concertos - I Musici (1962) Vinyl LP • IMPORT • Corelli, Manfredini

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Condition Details:

Import from Netherlands. Vinyl plays with some crackles and a few light-clicks (play-graded). Cover has a few creases near edges; light-scuffing, (front/back); surface impressions on front alongside a sales sticker. Inner-sleeve is original (generic white). Spine is easy-to-read with mild-wear and a split in center. Minor shelf-wear along top-edge, heavier across bottom-edge and corners. Opening is crisp with signs of light use and divots. (Not a cut-out.)

Tracks:

1. Concerto Grossa In G Minor, Op. 6 No 8 (Arcangelo Corelli )
2. Concerto In C, Op. 3 No. 12 (Francesco Manfredini )
3. Concerto In G Minor, Op. 8 no. 6 (Giuseppe Torelli )
4. Concerto In F Minor, Op. 1 No. 8 (Pietro Antonio Locatelli )

About The Record:

Christmas Concertos - I Musici released on Philips in 1962, features a stellar collection of Baroque holiday masterpieces performed by the renowned Italian chamber ensemble, including Arcangelo Corelli's Concerto Grosso in G minor, Op. 6 No. 8 ("Fatto per la Notte di Natale"), Francesco Manfredini's Op. 3 No. 12 in C major, Giuseppe Torelli's Op. 8 No. 6 in G minor, and Pietro Antonio Locatelli's Op. 3 No. 6 in F major. Led by violinist Felix Ayo with organist Maria Teresa Garatti, the recording captures the group's signature precision and vitality, blending pastoral pastorales with festive fanfares that evoke 17th- and 18th-century Roman Christmas celebrations. Historically significant as one of the earliest studio efforts to compile these "Christmas" concertos—each composed explicitly for the Yuletide season—it played a pivotal role in reviving interest in Italian Baroque music during the post-World War II early music movement, helping establish I Musici as a leading proponent of period-informed performances. The Philips production, known for its crisp stereo sound, was reissued multiple times, including a landmark 1985 digital recording that preserved the ensemble's influence on subsequent holiday repertoire interpretations. Corelli's concerto stands out as the enduring favorite, frequently excerpted in broadcasts and compilations for its iconic pastoral finale.