Search - Albeniz, Falla, Moussorgsky :: Antal Dorati Conducts Albéniz

Edge-of-your-seat Albeniz

Classic Music Lover | Maryland, USA | 06/19/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Many people like to hear Spanish music performed with an orchestral "wash" of sound -- and for that, you can buy many commendable performances of the Albeniz "Iberia" such as the recordings by Enrique Batiz and Jesus Lopez-Cobos.



But I really like this Dorati performance, too. This is the one to buy if you want your Spanish music to sound like it's to be DANCED TO. Dorati's approach is swift, rhythmic and propulsive ... and you can almost feel the palpable heat of the dancers with their complicated dance steps and colorful costumes. The Minneapolis players really get into the music -- with some of the solo instrumentalists (like the oboist) really doing a superlative job. The early stereo sound is a bit hard-edged, but think of it as the musical equivalent of those early color movies with their hues that are slightly off and just a bit garish.



... And after all, with Spanish music, don't we want it to be just a little garish? No muted Germanic "turgidness" or English "pastorale" style this -- just give me the hot-blooded passion!



The other works on this CD are well-done, too. But the Albeniz is the main reason to buy this disk."

Flabbergasting sound!

Doug - Haydn Fan | California | 09/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When the first notes of this CD sounded both my spaniels dashed out to the living room to see what it was. They usually only pick up their ears a little bit. And they certainly were right to react! The sound of this FIFTY - yes, fifty - year old material is mindboggling. Moreover the orchestra playing while not absolute top=drawer is still quite good and very well-rehearsed.

I purchased this for the Albeniz and that alone quite justified the cost of the CD. Before buying this CD you should know it is also available in the 5 CD Dorati Box Set, which is another good way to buy some CD reissues of these Mercury recordings. If you choose to buy just this CD you will almostly certainly play it again, if only to see if it actually is that good. IT IS! (You'll probably show it off, too.) One can only wonder and marvel at the achievement of the original engineers. What a pristine original LP sounds like will set you back hundreds of dollars - and require a hefty investment in turntable and cartridge. This CD format should do fine for most of us."