España
Spanish repertoire from the pianist Rubinstein
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Enrique Granados (y Campiña), Manuel de Falla, Isaac Albéniz
Genre:
Instrumental
Label: Piano Classics
Magazine Review Date: 09/2012
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 73
Mastering:
Stereo
DDD
Catalogue Number: PCL0031
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
España |
Isaac Albéniz, Composer
Isaac Albéniz, Composer Michel Block, Musician, Piano |
(4) Pièces espagnoles |
Manuel de Falla, Composer
Manuel de Falla, Composer Michel Block, Musician, Piano |
Escenas poeticas (Libro de horas) |
Enrique Granados (y Campiña), Composer
Enrique Granados (y Campiña), Composer Michel Block, Musician, Piano |
(12) Danzas españolas |
Enrique Granados (y Campiña), Composer
Enrique Granados (y Campiña), Composer Michel Block, Musician, Piano |
Author: Bryce Morrison
But, listening to this incomparable disc, you can easily understand Rubinstein’s anger. As played by Block, Granados’s Spanish Dances, in particular, become among the most magical and seductive miniatures in the repertoire, the chiming magic of No 4 a wonder of confidentiality, No 10 (once closely associated with Iturbi) emerging as if through some dream-like opalescent haze. Such free thinking, ease and fluidity are radically different to Alicia de Larrocha’s blinding rhythmic force and clarity but I like to think that that most generous-hearted of artists would have delighted in playing so markedly different to her own. Block’s softly crooning rather than openly singing sound can make your head spin, so seductive are his colour and inflection, and you will search far and wide for more sheerly beautiful playing.
It only remains for me to add that Block, like Fiorentino and Sánchez, paid a price for not being addicted to the limelight, leaving the stage early in his career for virtual oblivion. If Piano Classics can winkle out Block’s legendary recording of Iberia, they would add to their already superb service.
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