I Musici - The Analogue Years [83 CD Box Set] | Classical Music Collection | Perfect for Audiophiles & Music Enthusiasts

Working through the discs, I ran some comparisons of these vs. the previous CD issues, most of which can be found on YouTube. In all cases, the new remastering opens up the music, so that those recordings which may have sounded somewhat cramped are now very open and airy, and better than their former LP incarnations. CD's that I had previously dispensed with due the lack of engagement now sound very musical to me. This is a wonderful achievement, and now we wait eagerly for the complete I Musici digital recordings.The very first recording from 1955 is of the Vivaldi Four Seasons, and is remarkable for its interpretation. To my ears, it sounds similar to the Bernstein recording with John Corigliano from only a few years later; it is likely the earlier one influenced Bernstein's approach, in that the overall effect transports the listener, rather than simply narrates a sequence of scenes. It is the difference between portraying a scene of a hot day versus someone just telling you it's very hot, or more generally playing from within the music vs. playing the notes to adhere to an intellectual narrative.Everyone likely has their own favorite performances of these works, but these are exceptional for I Musici's luminosity and artistry, which we have not heard for many years. Highly recommended, especially for those who like their baroque and classical music played on modern instruments, rather than the other approach (insert your own pejoratives here...).