On this date, 1909,died Isaac Albeniz, composer of
the greatest spanish suite for the piano ever.
A marvellous work, extremely difficult technical
and stylistically.
Honor and praise to him, and Viva Iberia!!
I do, and have most of his music!
Thought this was about Heinrich Isaac.
Quote from: carlos on May 18, 2007, 09:39:27 AM
Honor and praise to him, and Viva Iberia!!
Viva!
I like his opera Merlin :) And it is even in English !
To anybody interested:fine greek pianist
Rena Kyriakou has recorded almost all Issac's
works, and I believe they are on CD. She's
not Alicia, but he was good, and there are
dozens of pieces she'd recorded that almost
nobody knows.
Quote from: carlos on May 20, 2007, 08:04:53 AM
To anybody interested:fine greek pianist
Rena Kyriakou has recorded almost all Issac's
works, and I believe they are on CD. She's
not Alicia, but he was good, and there are
dozens of pieces she'd recorded that almost
nobody knows.
And the price looks right. Definitely interesting!
http://www.amazon.com/Albeniz-Iberia-Nouvelle-Impressions-Sonata/dp/B00023BI4C (http://www.amazon.com/Albeniz-Iberia-Nouvelle-Impressions-Sonata/dp/B00023BI4C)
I clicked on this thread expecting it to be about Heinrich Isaac (1450 - 1517). Never mind, Albeniz is a fine composer though my collection has only Iberia (Alicia de Larrocha and Marc-André Hamelin) and a few short pieces. Perhaps I should try some of the recommendations. Strange the thread hasn't been used since 2007. Also, just noticed someone else had the same thought about Heinrich.
There are many recordings of the orchestral versions of Rapsodia Espanola and Spanish Suite.
As for the orchestrated versions (which were done by Arbos and Surinach) of ENTIRE Iberia suite, however, it is my understanding that there are only 3 recordings available. They include the recordings by Lopez-Cobos/Cincinnati, Jean Morel/Paris, and Peter Breiner/Moscow.
The first set is apparently popular, but it seems to me that the performance is a little slow and it lacks color and vibe. I like the Paris recording which is penetrating and very lively. The third recording is only for completists, I think.
Another interesting album would be a set of 6 pieces arranged by Francisco Guerrero in the mid-1990s. Unfortunately he passed away before completing all the 12 pieces. The arrangement is stylish and sophisticated without being self-centered or ostentatious.
The Breiner recording (on Naxos) is not of the Arbós / Surinach orchestration of Iberia, but rather of an arrangement by the conductor himself. I didn't find it very successful (have only listened to snippets, though).
In the "standard" Arbós / Surinach orchestration, marked differences can be noticed between the contributions of the two arrangers, but the end result as a whole is very enjoyable.
Apart from the recordings you mention, Eugene Ormandy also recorded the full orchestral Iberia with his Philadelphia Orchestra in mono for Columbia in 1956. It was never reissued by Sony in CD, but Pristine Classical has mad a transfer.
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1691/2535/products/PASC262_530x.jpg?v=1490107682)
I think that Guerrero disc you posted is great, and it's a real pity the composer didn't live to complete the orchestration. I've read composer Jesús Rueda has been working on a completion of the orchestration along Guerrero's lines (perhaps it's even finished by now), but don't have any details.
Finally, the doyen of Spanish composers, Cristóbal Halffter, made an arrangement of Eritaña (only), which was recorded by DG on a CD only issued in the domestic Spanish market AFAIK, and now OOP and almost impossible to find.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51nu4bHG4oL.jpg)
Ritter, you are right. I should have mentioned that Breiner's recording is his own arrangement (and it is mediocre). Naxos also issued a guitar trio arrangement performed by Trio Campanella. The performance/arrangement is fine, but lacking dynamism. As for Arbos/Surinach comparison, I have heard a few people saying that the Surinach arrangement is not as good as the Arbos. I am not sure about it. I think the arrangement by Surinach is just fine. As you probably know, Ravel told Albeniz that he wanted to make an arrangement of Ibernia. But Albeniz declined since he had already given a permission for orchestration to his friend, Arbos. May I say this is unfortunate. If Ravel asked a little earlier, or Arbos asked a little later, we would have been listening to a very different, perhaps more colorful, work today.
Thank you for the great info about Rueda and Halffter, which I didn't know. I will look for the both. I totally forgot about the Ormandy set. I was hesitant to buy the album because it's mono. I may buy it. Do you think I should?
If you hear anything about a new arrangement or recording of Albeniz, please let me know.
Quote from: ritter on June 30, 2020, 09:33:26 PM
The Breiner recording (on Naxos) is not of the Arbós / Surinach orchestration of Iberia, but rather of an arrangement by the conductor himself. I didn't find it very successful (have only listened to snippets, though).
In the "standard" Arbós / Surinach orchestration, marked differences can be noticed between the contributions of the two arrangers, but the end result as a whole is very enjoyable.
Apart from the recordings you mention, Eugene Ormandy also recorded the full orchestral Iberia with his Philadelphia Orchestra in mono for Columbia in 1956. It was never reissued by Sony in CD, but Pristine Classical has mad a transfer.
(https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1691/2535/products/PASC262_530x.jpg?v=1490107682)
I think that Guerrero disc you posted is great, and it's a real pity the composer didn't live to complete the orchestration. I've read composer Jesús Rueda has been working on a completion of the orchestration along Guerrero's lines (perhaps it's even finished by now), but don't have any details.
Finally, the doyen of Spanish composers, Cristóbal Halffter, made an arrangement of Eritaña (only), which was recorded by DG on a CD only issued in the domestic Spanish market AFAIK, and now OOP and almost impossible to find.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51nu4bHG4oL.jpg)
As far as guitar arrangements of his piano music, which is by far what he is best known for, these are among my favorites
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81jLQ4uTpnL._SS500_.jpg)
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71EXqU9m5hL._SX522_.jpg)
I like both the guitar players. I will check the albums!
Quote from: BWV 1080 on July 01, 2020, 08:25:03 AM
As far as guitar arrangements of his piano music, which is by far what he is best known for, these are among my favorites
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81jLQ4uTpnL._SS500_.jpg)
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71EXqU9m5hL._SX522_.jpg)
Quote from: Forever Brett Kavanaugh on July 01, 2020, 08:17:02 AM
I think the arrangement by Surinach is just fine.
So do I :).
Surinach may be a bit more daring and "interventionist" than
Arbós (not surprising, given the years elapsed between the two approaches), but he does a splendid job. In
Rondeña (a piece I'm almost obsessed with, see as one of the highlights of the whole
Iberia suite and also as possibly the greatest fusion
ever of flamenco with "cultured" music), he brings the rhythmic complexity of the
petenera to the forefront most effectively, and also makes the felicitous choice of having the trumpets sound (at the reprise if the
petenera, after the quiet
guajira central section) slightly out of tune, as is usual in the music played during bullfights (Ronda has one of the oldest bullrings in Spain).
QuoteI totally forgot about the Ormandy set. I was hesitant to buy the album because it's mono. I may buy it. Do you think I should?
I don't know it, sorry (I only know it exists and has been reissued by Pristine). I'm perfectly content with
López-Cobos onz Telarc and
Morel on Australian Eloquence.
QuoteIf you hear anything about a new arrangement or recording of Albeniz, please let me know.
The DG disc I posted also includes a piece called
Halfbéniz (
Halffter +
Albéniz, get it? ;) :D), which is a "fantasy" on
El Albaicín (from book 3 of
Iberia) and I very much enjoy (I am a great admirer of
C. Halffter's music), but it is essentially an avant-garde piece in
Halffter's
spätstil, in which
Albéniz's original is only briefly quoted (but to great effect—this is a trademark recourse of Cristóbal's style), and
Halffter's gift (genius, I'd say) for dense and intricate, but also very effective and beautiful, orchestral palettes shines through in every bar.
There's also this disc, of limited circulation AFAIK:
(http://www.montsalvatgecompositor.com/caratules/1Orquestra_Solista_Concierto_Breve.gif)
In it,
Albéniz's
Rapsodia española (the original orchestration of which was lost, AFAIK) is given twice, in scorings by none other than
Georges Enesco and—again—
Cristóbal Halffter, respectively. Well worth listening to (and the two versions s sound—compared to each other—almost as if they were an entirely different work.
EDIT:
I see in the webpage (https://www.trito.es/es/compositores/30072/jesus-rueda) of
Jesús Rueda's publishers Tritó, that he seems to have completed 5 of his orchestrations of numbers of
Iberia. This, added to the 6 completed by
Francisco Guerrero, would mean that only
El Puerto is missing to complete the whole series. You can hear snippets of some of
Rueda's work if you hit on the titles of the individual pieces in the list of works on the link I've provided.
Thank you for the website link and the info. I love Rondena and Almeria. As for Arbos, I like Puerto and Corpus Christ. I didn't know about the out-of-tune trumpets in Rondena. I will listen carefully!
Quote from: ritter on July 03, 2020, 09:36:34 AM
So do I :). Surinach may be a bit more daring and "interventionist" than Arbós (not surprising, given the years elapsed between the two approaches), but he does a splendid job. In Rondeña (a piece I'm almost obsessed with, see as one of the highlights of the whole Iberia suite and also as possibly the greatest fusion ever of flamenco with "cultured" music), he brings the rhythmic complexity of the petenera to the forefront most effectively, and also makes the felicitous choice of having the trumpets sound (at the reprise if the petenera, after the quiet guajira central section) slightly out of tune, as is usual in the music played during bullfights (Ronda has one of the oldest bullrings in Spain).
I don't know it, sorry (I only know it exists and has been reissued by Pristine). I'm perfectly content with López-Cobos onz Telarc and Morel on Australian Eloquence.
The DG disc I posted also includes a piece called Halfbéniz (Halffter + Albéniz, get it? ;) :D), which is a "fantasy" on El Albaicín (from book 3 of Iberia) and I very much enjoy (I am a great admirer of C. Halffter's music), but it is essentially an avant-garde piece in Halffter's spätstil, in which Albéniz's original is only briefly quoted (but to great effect—this is a trademark recourse of Cristóbal's style), and Halffter's gift (genius, I'd say) for dense and intricate, but also very effective and beautiful, orchestral palettes shines through in every bar.
There's also this disc, of limited circulation AFAIK:
(http://www.montsalvatgecompositor.com/caratules/1Orquestra_Solista_Concierto_Breve.gif)
In it, Albéniz's Rapsodia española (the original orchestration of which was lost, AFAIK) is given twice, in scorings by none other than Georges Enesco and—again— Cristóbal Halffter, respectively. Well worth listening to (and the two versions s sound—compared to each other—almost as if they were an entirely different work.
EDIT:
I see in the webpage (https://www.trito.es/es/compositores/30072/jesus-rueda) of Jesús Rueda's publishers Tritó, that he seems to have completed 5 of his orchestrations of numbers of Iberia. This, added to the 6 completed by Francisco Guerrero, would mean that only El Puerto is missing to complete the whole series. You can hear snippets of some of Rueda's work if you hit on the titles of the individual pieces in the list of works on the link I've provided.
I enjoy this recording immensely:
[asin]B0000064U7[/asin]
I haven't heard rival recordings (of which there aren't many) of the complete orchestrated version, so I can't comment on how López-Cobos compares to them. But I can say that these are really successful orchestrations, in my view; brilliantly colorful and sensuous. I had no idea, though - as FBK said above - that Ravel had wanted to orchestrate the work at one point. How magnificent that would've been!
The recording is popular. You may like the recording by Jean Morel/Paris. It is sharp and energetic, while the JLC set is relaxed and atmospheric.
Also the Guerrero album offers a sophisticated, modern orchestration though it has only 6 pieces.
Quote from: kyjo on July 04, 2020, 11:51:49 AM
I enjoy this recording immensely:
[asin]B0000064U7[/asin]
I haven't heard rival recordings (of which there aren't many) of the complete orchestrated version, so I can't comment on how López-Cobos compares to them. But I can say that these are really successful orchestrations, in my view; brilliantly colorful and sensuous. I had no idea, though - as FBK said above - that Ravel had wanted to orchestrate the work at one point. How magnificent that would've been!
I find the Guerrero orchestrations to be maximalist, wildly colorful, full of percussion, and over-the-top - in other words, perhaps a little tasteless but at the same time perfectly so.
I enjoy the Trio Campanella guitar arrangement a great deal.
Albeniz' youthful Piano Sonata No. 4 practically begs to be orchestrated, I can almost easily hear an orchestral version in my head when I listen to it.
The arrangement by the Campanella is fine. The laid back feel is just not with my preference. I may like the music in the future.
Quote from: Brian on July 05, 2020, 08:34:54 AM
I find the Guerrero orchestrations to be maximalist, wildly colorful, full of percussion, and over-the-top - in other words, perhaps a little tasteless but at the same time perfectly so.
I enjoy the Trio Campanella guitar arrangement a great deal.
Albeniz' youthful Piano Sonata No. 4 practically begs to be orchestrated, I can almost easily hear an orchestral version in my head when I listen to it.
Fine albums of the Iberia Suite, Spanish Suite and Piano Concerto by Enrique Batiz.
Not that I wish to spoil the party but none of the above is genuine Albeniz so the title of the thread is misleading. It should read 'Orchestrations of Albeniz's Music". Just saying. :blank:
Quote from: Florestan on July 06, 2020, 07:42:32 AM
Not that I wish to spoil the party but none of the above is genuine Albeniz so the title of the thread is misleading. It should read 'Orchestrations of Albeniz's Music". Just saying. :blank:
You sound like a fellow GMGer you told to f*ck off just a couple of days ago. Just saying. ;D
Bună seara,
Andrei! :)
P.S.: You've got mail.
Quote from: ritter on July 06, 2020, 07:46:40 AM
You sound like a fellow GMGer you told to f*ck off just a couple of days ago. Just saying. ;D
Funny thing is, I thought about adding the following line to my post:
Woooops, looks like I've just had a some guy moment.Eventually I did not because I didn't want to push the whole kerfuffle any more. But you have my word that I really thought about it. ;D
So, go on, tell me to f*ck off, I wouldn't mind in the least. :)
Quote
Bună seara, Andrei! :)
P.S.: You've got mail.
Buenas tardes,
Rafael.No new mail, I'm afraid, neither here nor on my e-mail. :(
Quote from: Forever Brett Kavanaugh on July 05, 2020, 07:19:47 AM
The recording is popular. You may like the recording by Jean Morel/Paris. It is sharp and energetic, while the JLC set is relaxed and atmospheric.
Also the Guerrero album offers a sophisticated, modern orchestration though it has only 6 pieces.
Thanks for the recs. Can't find the Morel recording on YT or Spotify, unfortunately, but I did find the Guerrero.
That's a legitimate concern. I will post about some guitar and piano works.
Quote from: Florestan on July 06, 2020, 07:42:32 AM
Not that I wish to spoil the party but none of the above is genuine Albeniz so the title of the thread is misleading. It should read 'Orchestrations of Albeniz's Music". Just saying. :blank:
Enjoying "Catalonia", Symfonica de Barcelona. Some lesser-known, but wonderful, compositions. I wonder who did orchestration.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71nTN6RhndL._SS500_.jpg)
Well worth a listen I'd say. Gustavo Diaz-Jerez is well aware of the range of styles of music in Alberia and can reflect that in the timbre he makes. There's video footage on YouTube which I haven't checked out yet.
Diaz-Jerez is a serious avant garde composer.
I've had these two Iberia in my heavy rotation.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/5194CX06grL.jpg) (https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71CAxs1TKJL._SL600_.jpg)
Once I get to know Goerner better, Luis Fernando Pérez is up next. Though I should stop comparing anyone to Block and de Larrocha and just enjoy them.
(Also shocking that GMG didn't have an I. Albéniz thread up until recent!)
Quote from: staxomega on July 29, 2022, 08:13:09 AM(Also shocking that GMG didn't have an I. Albéniz thread up until recent!)
There is another Albéniz thread (it is the one that is connected to the Composer Index III thread. It is also a paltry one pager. Perhaps it could be merged with this one?
Other major Spanish composers like
Falla and
Granados a have very small amount of activity on them as well. :-\
Quote from: OrchestralNut on March 11, 2023, 08:11:11 AMThere is another Albéniz thread (it is the one that is connected to the Composer Index III thread. It is also a paltry one pager. Perhaps it could be merged with this one?
Did I do it right? ;D
Edit: oh darn I don't like that merger notice it created. Won't select that option again.
Quote from: Brian on March 11, 2023, 08:29:08 AMDid I do it right? ;D
Perfect, thank you Brian! :)
I was given a recording of Iberia last year but I haven't got round to listening yet.
Anyone else familiar with this 9-disc set? It came highly recommended by another member from another forum.
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiODkyOTEyNy4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE2MjY3ODk3Mzl9)
Quote from: Franco_Manitobain on April 23, 2023, 10:03:54 AMAnyone else familiar with this 9-disc set? It came highly recommended by another member from another forum.
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiODkyOTEyNy4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE2MjY3ODk3Mzl9)
My first listen into this set!
Disc 1, and it is sounding wonderful!
Iberia - Book I
12 Piezas Caracteristicas, Op. 92
Mallorca (Barcarola), Op. 202
^ One other thing that is great about this 9 disc set is it includes the 9 separate issued booklets for each disc, in their original artwork. 8)
Recordings span between 1998 to 2015
Quote from: Franco_Manitobain on May 24, 2023, 05:54:01 AM^ One other thing that is great about this 9 disc set is it includes the 9 separate issued booklets for each disc, in their original artwork. 8)
Oh wow, that is cool! I have been on the fence about it. This is useful knowledge 8)
Quote from: Brian on May 24, 2023, 06:02:35 AMOh wow, that is cool! I have been on the fence about it. This is useful knowledge 8)
The set is on the "pricey" side of things. John (MI) had recommended it to me.
Quote from: Brian on May 24, 2023, 06:02:35 AMOh wow, that is cool! I have been on the fence about it. This is useful knowledge 8)
Also reviewed by Hurwitz, who likes it:
Yeah, it was me in part who convinced him to buy it ;D I have streamed some of Baselga's individual releases or single works online. Albéniz' repertoire is hard for me because there are some famous masterpieces (Iberia, La Vega, many of the character pieces with place names like Mallorca), and then there is a whole bunch of early stuff, and then there is a whole bunch of stuff that I don't know what it is. I recently streamed and fell for Sonata No. 4, so maybe there are a lot of hidden gems in the less famous early works.
Quote from: Brian on May 24, 2023, 07:34:26 AMI recently streamed and fell for Sonata No. 4, so maybe there are a lot of hidden gems in the less famous early works.
Yes, there are, but only for salon music buffs, lke you and me. :D
Quote from: Franco_Manitobain on April 23, 2023, 10:03:54 AMAnyone else familiar with this 9-disc set? It came highly recommended by another member from another forum.
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiODkyOTEyNy4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwianBlZyI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0IjoianBlZyJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE2MjY3ODk3Mzl9)
Personally not a fan of the Baselga. I like the Larrocha recordings below during the 1950s-early 1960s whereas I don't care her albums after that. For newer recordings, I think Goerner sounds decent. Fukuma is average.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p5nQlklL0uL2nLX77ErF33IrO6_8IFWJ0eiEy5WwF4eqRhc6DDl9QIZ3tXGrVhzexnmCkx1j1vmb4Y5HnA=w544-h544-l90-rj)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ZGWYGmxYue2fDwhnB_opOXJDzL7rrXMjJ9LdYEZ6BbW0pmI_Qv6YIsURNlUr5iGoNJow8avH_JbaGnResw=w544-h544-l90-rj)
Quote from: Dry Brett Kavanaugh on May 24, 2023, 10:42:44 AMPersonally not a fan of the Baselga
Because it's too tough and intense?
Quote from: Mandryka on May 25, 2023, 07:47:40 AMBecause it's too tough and intense?
To me, his performance sounds lifeless and a little superficial. I would like soulful, sorcerous Albeniz. It's just a personal preference.
Recent listen. The Tagliaferro sounds like a salon piano a little, but sounds sweet and cute. I would want shadow and sensitivity in the music though. Although Alfonso is not a virtuoso, his performance is likable with some good ideas and interpretations. The Rubinstein is not for me. He plays the music as if it is Austrian/Russian compositions.
(https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Music126/v4/9b/81/ab/9b81ab04-5abd-241b-ed5a-955ec5980da9/5905348439282.jpg/632x632bb.webp)
(https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Music2/v4/87/3c/d1/873cd18c-4c4e-ac68-b943-d5389cdba58e/747313001088.jpg/632x632bb.webp)
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/715i9PdETXL._SX522_.jpg)
I listened to Kotaro Fukuma play Iberia, what stunning piano playing. I was doing some comparisons with Michel Block immediately afterward and in comparison Block almost sounds like the music is just on the cusp of what he is capable of! (I know he is fully up to it)
I'll have to listen to Fukuma more because I wasn't really sold on the interpretations but I can't say why. It's not for a lack of rhythm or feel for the music.
Albeniz in somewhat polished, European style. Plus, a few Falla and one Granados works. Likable music and sharp dexterity.
(https://d1iiivw74516uk.cloudfront.net/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJwcmVzdG8tY292ZXItaW1hZ2VzIiwia2V5IjoiODAwMzM5Ny4xLmpwZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTAwfSwid2VicCI6eyJxdWFsaXR5Ijo2NX0sInRvRm9ybWF0Ijoid2VicCJ9LCJ0aW1lc3RhbXAiOjE0OTU3MTQxNTB9)
Orozco Iberia live in 1993
https://pqpbach.ars.blog.br/2019/02/09/isaac-albeniz-1860-1909-iberia-rafael-orozco-piano/
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/414GZ1MMFLL._SR600%2C315_PIWhiteStrip%2CBottomLeft%2C0%2C35_PIStarRatingFOURANDHALF%2CBottomLeft%2C360%2C-6_SR600%2C315_ZA24%2C445%2C290%2C400%2C400%2CAmazonEmberBold%2C12%2C4%2C0%2C0%2C5_SCLZZZZZZZ_FMpng_BG255%2C255%2C255.jpg)
De Larroche is always my go-to for Albeniz, but I also like Marc Andre Hamelin's version of Iberia above.
Quote from: Mandryka on July 22, 2024, 12:20:21 AMOrozco Iberia live in 1993
https://pqpbach.ars.blog.br/2019/02/09/isaac-albeniz-1860-1909-iberia-rafael-orozco-piano/
Maybe this one?
Quote from: Dry Brett Kavanaugh on July 23, 2024, 11:57:35 AMMaybe this one?
I listened to Books 1 and 2 today - and I thought it was exceptional.
Quote from: Mandryka on July 23, 2024, 01:37:24 PMI listened to Books 1 and 2 today - and I thought it was exceptional.
European style. Fine music. I will listen again this week.
Ok, outside of the piano music, is there any Albéniz music that one should explore?
@ritter
Quote from: ChamberNut on March 01, 2025, 04:34:18 AMOk, outside of the piano music, is there any Albéniz music that one should explore?
@ritter
Just as with
Granados, I'm not that familiar with
Albéniz's non-pianistic work. Of his operas (to English librettos), I know only
Merlin which is, how can I put it, overambitious. I don't particularly care for the
Concierto fantástico, IIRC.
Again, sorry not to be of help...
I remember being disappointed that the concerto did not sound especially Spanish.
Quote from: ChamberNut on March 01, 2025, 04:34:18 AMOk, outside of the piano music, is there any Albéniz music that one should explore?
@ritter
Not really. Outside of that fabulous solo piano music, there are a few operatic works that as
@ritter pointed out (
Henry Clifford and
Merlin) that aren't particularly noteworthy, although I would probably say that
Merlin is the better one of the two mentioned.
Anyway, when I'm in the mood for some Albéniz, it's always his solo piano music. Much like myself and Granados. I don't find them too interesting or compelling outside what I consider to be their milieu.