The Avison Ensemble - Arcangelo Corelli: Concerti Grossi Opus 6 (2012) [Hi-Res]

London's Avison Ensemble, true to its name, has devoted itself mostly to recording works by lesser-known composers of the Baroque era. Arcangelo Corelli does not fit that classification, but his Op. 6 Concerti Grossi (not really a set, for they were composed at different times, for different purposes, and only published together) are better known in parts than as a whole, with the so-called "Christmas Concerto," Op. 6/8, and its singsong pastoral idyll the best known of all. The Avison Ensemble has undertaken to record all of Corelli's small-ensemble music. Some might prefer these pieces in smaller doses, but there's also a lot to be gained by working one's way through the whole group, which was popular enough to influence both Vivaldi and Handel, several decades later. Corelli's writing is more contrapuntal than that of either of those composers, with many examples of his characteristic chains of suspensions. The Avison Ensemble under leader Pavlo Beznosiuk avoids the energetic attacks of contemporary Italian groups, with Beznosiuk cultivating a sweet, fluid sound. He makes the counterpoint clear but minimizes the solo-group contrast that is at the heart of the concerto grosso form. The end result is an hour or more of pleasant listening that doubtless possesses many of the virtues that made Corelli popular among the English in the first place, faithfully captured by Linn's Super Audio recording. -- James Manheim