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’ (SXL 6734: tracks 1–13 on this reissue). 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.
MATEO ALBÉNIZ
1 Sonata in D major
ISAAC ALBÉNIZ
2 Rumores de la caleta: Malagueña (No. 6 from Recuerdos de Viaje, Op. 71)
3 Pavana-Capricho, Op. 12
4 Puerta de tierra: Bolero (No. 5 from Recuerdos de Viaje, Op. 71)
5 Malagueña (No. 3 from España, Op. 165)
6 Tango (No. 2 from España, Op. 165)
7 Sevilla: Sevillanas (No. 3 from Suite española, Op. 47)
ANTONIO SOLER
8 Sonata in G minor, R. 87
9 Sonata in D major, R. 84
JOAQUÍN PÉREZ TURINA
10 Sacromonte (No. 5 from Danzas gitanas, Set 1, Op. 55)
11 Zapateado (No. 3 from Tres danzas andaluzas, Op. 8)
ENRIQUE GRANADOS
12 Valenciana o Calesera (No. 7 from Danzas españolas, Op. 37)
13 Andaluza (No. 5 from Danzas españolas, Op. 37)
14 Quejas ó la maya y el ruiseñor (No. 4 from Goyescas)
15 El pelele
MANUEL DE FALLA
16 Danza de los vecinos (from El sombrero de tres picos)
17 Danza ritual del fuego (from El amor brujo)
ERNESTO HALFFTER
18 Danza de la pastora
19 Danza de la gitana
JOAQUÍN MARIA NIN-CULMELL
20 Cancíon otoñal (No. 19 from Tonadas, Volume 2)
XAVIER MONTSALVATGE
21 Divertimento No. 2 ‘Habanera’
Alicia de Larrocha, piano
Recording Producers: Michael Woolcock (1–13, 16–21); James Walker (14, 15)
Recording Engineers: Colin Moorfoot, John Dunkerley (1–13); Martin Smith (14, 15); Philip Wade, Simon Eadon (16, 17); Colin Moorfoot, Tryggvi Tryggvason (18-21)
Recording Locations: Kingsway Hall, London, UK, 26–30 January 1970 (18–21); 25-28 June 1973 (16, 17); 13–18 May 1974 (1-13); Decca Studio 3, West Hampstead, London, UK, 10–13 December 1976 (14, 15)
‘Each track is excellently recorded, and Miss de Larrocha does everything possible for these little pieces, from the piquant sub-Scarlatti of Matéo Albéniz and Soler to the items by Isaac Albéniz and Granados … This music is mainly an evocation of dance and song, and the vividness and clarity, light and warmth are everywhere apparent’ (Spanish Piano Music) Gramophone