Spanish Piano Encores (CD)

Although she disliked being typecast as a Spanish music specialist, there’s no doubt that Alicia de Larrocha’s way with this music is in a class by itself. No matter what the repertoire for a recital she gave, regardless of whether it included Spanish music, she was often called upon by her audiences to provide at least one Spanish encore. Over her performing lifetime she built up many of these and in 1974 made a recording of thirteen entitled Spanish Piano Music.

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That LP forms the core of this reissue and is filled out with other encore-worthy Spanish titles. While Albéniz (with six pieces) and Granados (with four) form the core of the reissue, there’s also zesty Spanish Baroque music by Mateo Albéniz (no relation of Isaac) and Antonio Soler, two dances from Falla ballet music despatched with disarming ease by Larrocha in their keyboard versions, and miniatures by Halffter, Nin-Culmell and Montsalvatge.

TRACK LIST

MATEO ALBÉNIZ
Sonata in D major

ISAAC ALBÉNIZ
Rumores de la caleta: Malagueña (No. 6 from Recuerdos de Viaje, Op. 71)
Pavana-Capricho, Op. 12
Puerta de tierra: Bolero (No. 5 from Recuerdos de Viaje, Op. 71)
Malagueña (No. 3 from España, Op. 165)
Tango (No. 2 from España, Op. 165)
Sevilla: Sevillanas (No. 3 from Suite española, Op. 47)

ANTONIO SOLER
Sonata in G minor, R. 87
Sonata in D major, R. 84

JOAQUÍN PÉREZ TURINA
Sacromonte (No. 5 from Danzas gitanas, Set 1, Op. 55)
Zapateado (No. 3 from Tres danzas andaluzas, Op. 8)

ENRIQUE GRANADOS
Valenciana o Calesera (No. 7 from Danzas españolas, Op. 37)
Andaluza (No. 5 from Danzas españolas, Op. 37)
Quejas ó la maya y el ruiseñor (No. 4 from Goyescas)
El pelele

MANUEL DE FALLA
Danza de los vecinos (from El sombrero de tres picos)
Danza ritual del fuego (from El amor brujo)

ERNESTO HALFFTER
Danza de la pastora
Danza de la gitana

JOAQUÍN MARIA NIN-CULMELL
Cancíon otoñal (No. 19 from Tonadas, Volume 2)

XAVIER MONTSALVATGE
Divertimento No. 2 ‘Habanera’

Alicia de Larrocha, piano