Iberia revisited

[Steinway]

Of the recordings of the piano version of this masterpiece, the Marc-Andre Hamelin CD still ranks at the top for me.

I heard a superb live performance by this pianist in Philadelphia some years ago and he played it flawlessly, which is quite a feat for such a difficult and physically demanding work.

[karlhenning]

Of the recordings of the piano version of this masterpiece, the Marc-Andre Hamelin CD still ranks at the top for me.

I'm sure that must be a fine disc, cliftwood!

I do like the Gutierrez on Naxos; partly a sentimental favoritism, I'm sure.

Cheers,
~Karl

[stenka razin]

The eminient Spanish virtuoso Alicia de Laroccha, whether in her EMI or Decca versions is my favorite Iberia pianist. Her lifetime of playing Albeniz, in addition to Granados among many other Spanish composers is unequalled for both her virtuoisty and her direct link to her great Spanish piano heritage.

[Steinway]

There's no arguing the merits of deLarrocha's Iberia. She set the standard for many years in my book.

Karl..

Did Gutierrez record Iberia? I missed that one!

[DavidRoss]

A fine recording of a fine work. Serendipitously, our younger son and I were just discussing this piece yesterday and Spanish music in general, much overlooked except by guitarists and except for a handful of works that have entered the standard repertoire (like Rodrigo's Aranjuez and a couple of pieces by Falla--whose influence on his fellows was apparently more significant than I realized). He had recently heard the LAGQ perform their transcription of Iberia, and I suggested he might also find the Arbós orchestration worth hearing.

I also enjoy de Larrocha's recordings of the piece, as well as of other works by Albéniz (especially Suite Española) and Granados.

edit: Aha! I see Stenka beat me to it while I was heading to the CD case and putting the Hamelin recording on the player!

[karlhenning]

edit: Aha! I see Stenka beat me to it while I was heading to the CD case . . . .

I should have done that, for . . .

Karl..

Did Gutierrez record Iberia? I missed that one!

My mistake, Harris! The Naxos disc is played by Guillermo González

Cheers,
~Karl

[Lance]

No question, Iberia is an incredible piece of pianistic writing - all four books. Marc-André Hamelin ranks at the top of the ladder with his Hyperion set. Still, Alicia de Larrocha adds her own special flavours to these works. When I first heard her on an Epic stereo LP set, I was shocked at her absolutely brilliant pianism.

I have some superb recordings of Iberia. Some may be interested in these:

•German Sony 71001 - Alicia de Larrocha
•Decca 448 191 - Alicia de Larrocha (also Granados' Goyescas, complete)
•EMI 51814 - Leopoldo Querol (also Granados' Goyescas) [r. 1954]
•EMI 64504 - Alicia de Larrocha [Hispavox recordings)
•EMI 76906 - Also Ciccolini
•Archipel 0103 - Claudio Arrau [Books I/II) (early recordings 1928-1947) [also on Dante 079]
•Vox/Quadromania - Rena Kyriakou

I am uncertain if ALL of de Larrocha's Iberia recordings have been reissued. The original Epic LP set had some of the most unusual piano sound but it made a deep impression with her pianism; I have not encountered that "same" sound on CDs. Rena Kyriakou, too, makes a deep impression. She was gifted with a most gorgeous piano tone. The early Arrau, too, makes quite an impression.

[AntonioA]

One of my favorite works of all time . I have the old Columbia/Hispavox Lp with Larrocha and Leopoldo Querol on the old Ducretet Thompson label and both recordings are wonderful. Jean Morel did a fine recording of the Arbos/Surinach orchestrations. It was coupled with Ravels Rapsodie Esapagnole. A great pity Rubinstein never made a complete recording.

The melody used in Corpus Christi En Sevilla is taken from this old song which Federico Garcia Lorca
resurrected in the early 30:s. The second clip quotes Albeniz 1,25 in to the song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMfOTegr1u8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMqJeKkcNV0

[moreno]

There have been some good Iberia's performances lately. Luis Fernando Pérez is another pianist well worth it.

Maybe they haven't reached the heights attained by the legendary Esteban Sánchez, but their performances add new interesting sights on the work.

[val]

To me, Larrocha recorded the best versions of Iberia. Her version for EMI (1962) is perhaps the most perfect, with a remarkable dynamic.
Later, she recorded the work for DECCA: it is a version more centered in the color and beauty of sound.
Both are extraordinary, but I prefer the EMI version.

The old version of Leopoldo Querol would be my third choice.

[Chalkperson]

I have Mark-Andre Hamelin, Esteban Sánchez and Alicia de Larrocha...I like 'em all...

The Sanchez 3 CD Set is a steal on Brilliant Classics...

http://www.amazon.com/Alb%C3%A9niz-Iber ... 328&sr=1-1

ALBÉNIZ Iberia. Recuerdas de viaje. España: Seis hojas de álbum. Suite española. Piano Sonata No. 5 • Esteban Sánchez (pn) • BRILLIANT 92398 (3 CDs: 219:27)

Until now, my reference sets for Iberia have been those by Alicia De Larrocha (Decca) and Michael Block (Connoisseur Society, 2 LPs), even though both pianists somehow lack that little something “extra.” De Larrocha is certainly idiomatic, but she’s a little too refined (I prefer her Granados), while Block’s more subjective readings suffer from a tendency to over-pedal. Well, those perceived shortcomings have suddenly become a moot point, for this new release of recordings by the late Spanish pianist Esteban Sánchez raises the game to an entirely different level. To my ears, his Albéniz simply sweeps away the competition. In short, this is piano-playing at its most distinguished.
Sánchez (1934–97) was born in the province of Extremadura, studied in Madrid, and perfected his technique under Alfred Cortot in Paris. Apparently a man of natural simplicity and lack of vanity, Sánchez won a number of major international awards. But he chose to avoid the spotlight life of a traveling virtuoso and returned home in 1978 to teach at the Badajoz Conservatoire (a career path similar in some respects to that of the oft-reclusive Brazilian pianist Nelson Freire). The recordings in this set were all made 1968–74 in Barcelona. On discovering them, Albéniz admirer Daniel Barenboim asked in astonishment: “How is this possible? How can Spain have hidden away a performer of such class?”
Albéniz as played by Sánchez has a virtually endless array of coloration, nuance, and rhythmic inflection. Very few pianists in my experience communicate so intensely the inner workings of a composer’s mind, from the darkest ruminations to the most exuberant outbursts. Just listen to the way he effortlessly articulates the usually congested climax of “Corpus Christi en Seville,” or how his artful rubato stretches the harmonic progressions in “Almeria.” Or try the Mozartean clarity and wit in the fourth movement of the Piano Sonata No. 5. Suffice it to say, you will hear a riot of colors and a range of graded dynamics that are simply jaw-dropping.
The recorded sound is slightly bright and hard, but that’s easily corrected by a small adjustment of your treble control. Not every Albéniz gem is included (e.g., there’s no Navarra), but what is here constitutes some of the greatest Spanish piano-playing on record. It’s now clear that Cortot was hardly exaggerating when he called Sánchez “a musical genius of the 20th century.” At its super-budget price, this three-disc Brilliant Classics set is an extraordinary bargain. Highest recommendation. Jeffrey J. Lipscomb

[Auntie Lynn]

When I was in college, I was lugging the piano version around when I ran into my Major Advisor, who said: "Iberia is probably the most un-pianistic set out there" - well, it is. You have to be a contortionist to play it. The physical requirements are considerable, but well worth the effort. (My piano teacher at the time adored Spanish Impressionism - loved Jose Iturbi at it)...

[AntonioA]

Chalk, I´m glad you mentioned Esteban Sanchez. His Iberia recording is unknown to me so I ordered an lp copy a few minutes ago. I have several other lp:s with Sanchez including Albeniz Suite Espanola and a Faure collection.

I have the Michael Block Iberia too, but I have not taken the time to listen to it yet.

[otterhouse]

This Guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqdE4JCSohk&fmt=18

Is making a name for himself, with multimedia performances of Albeniz' Iberia.
Very interesting Pianist!

By the way, Albeniz recorded some improvisations of himself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6otO85ATRY&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VQ1RB5Y ... ted&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHl5Go-x ... ted&fmt=18

Rolf