The musical press has showered praise upon the Stuttgarter Kammerorchester and its founder and conductor Karl Münchinger for their spectacular performances. This DECCA recording now presents a delightful choice of works performed by this South German ensemble.

The programme opens in a splendidly festive Baroque spirit with Arcangelo Corelli’s famous Christmas Concerto, a work which is typical for the concerto grosso form with its alternation of tutti and solo passages. The instrumental soloists in particular dazzle with their finely chiselled playing and ravishing tone over the gentle sway of the strings. Münchinger has achieved a veritable miracle with his arrangement of Johann Pachelbel’s Canon, originally composed for the organ, for each and every instrument of the orchestra enhances the magic of this music. Carlo Ricciotti’s Concertino N° 2 offers us an insight into the various musical forms of the early 18th century.

The programme ends with Christoph Willibald Gluck’s vigourous Chaconne whose splendour and pomp is taken to new dramatic heights by the Stuttgarter Kammerorchester.
Light a candle and settle down for a delightful evening of entertainment: this excellent recording ensures that you will enjoy every minute to the full and not just at Christmas time.

This Speakers Corner LP was remastered using pure analogue components only, from the master tapes through to the cutting head. More information under http://www.pure-analogue.com. All royalties and mechanical rights have been paid.

Recording : October/ November 1960 at Victoria Hall, Geneva by Roy G. Wallace
Production : James Walker