Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909) : Piano works - A. de Larrocha, J.-J. Barbier

Homage to the Spanish pianist Alicia de Larrocha (1923-2009) who made known the music of her country. Messiaen, then Boulez considered Iberia ‘a marvel o the piano’, heir to Chopin and Liszt. Blending expressive luxuriance, whole-tone scales of which Debussy was fond, and resorting to ancient modes and oriental harmonies typical of the gypsy repertoire, the inspiration remains naturally flamenco, sometimes close to the Andalusian cante jondo. Arbós’s orchestration of five pieces shows that they lose nothing enlarging with Rosenthál who plays naturally Debussyst colours of the Paris Opera Orchestra, quite simply ideal. Homage, too, to the French pianist Jean-Joël Barbier (1920- 1994), a painter of Spanish and French music pictures.

PRD/DSD 350 075