Search - Figueras, Hesperion XX :: España: Anthology of Spanish Music

Great collection

Jonathan J. Casey | the twin cities | 11/03/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Two complaints: no liner notes so any potential educational value is lost (I have a number of reference books around the house and some of these composers don't show up anywhere in them) and there is at least one extremely jarring organ work that blasts out of nowhere. A more listener friendly compilation would've sequenced the disc differently or left it out alltogether. That said, this is a wonderful collection of music that I have (mostly) never heard before. I'm glad Naive Astree saw fit to put a lot of obscure and out-of-print recordings together to form this audio introduction to an underappreciated canon.Highlights include:Track 8 - Jordi Savall (gamba), Ton Koopman (harpsichord), and Rolf Lislevand (lute) turn in a brief but jaunty chamber performance of Ortiz. Left me wanting more.Track 11 - Hesperion XX give a haunting vocal performance of Morales' Pie Jesu Domine. I'm not one to ususally appreciate this sort of music (so consider me uninformed) but I found this truly beautiful. Track 15 - features Hopkinson Smith on the baroque guitar performing a fascinating Guerau work. Descending arpeggios like gentle, trickling waterfalls. Smith is a stunning performer. I wish he was better known in the U.S.Track 22 - from Haydn's original orchestral version of "The Seven Last Words Of Christ On The Cross," this is the one tempestuous movement from a work of mostly subdued music. Deep, powerful string sound from Savall's Le Concert Des Nations. Very well recorded.While I'd like to know more about the works and the composers behind them there is so much here to be enjoyed on a purely aesthetic level that I can't whine too much. If you have any interest, by all means pick up this bargain. You will be introduced to a number of great performers and works."

This is the best classical music

Michael Bevia | Corona, CA United States | 02/05/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I did'nt really like classical music till i bought España - Anthology of Spanish Music CD. I really, really love this CD. If your an artist and sometimes lack inspiration, I recommend this CD! It will get you in the mood to paint!"