COMPOSERS: Albeniz
LABELS: Ensayo
WORKS: Recuerdos de viaje; Piano Sonata No. 5; Pavana-capricho; Tango in A minor; Torre Bermeja
PERFORMER: Esteban Sánchez (piano)
CATALOGUE NO: ENY-CD-9740 ADD Reissue (1973-4)
The early Seventies recording sounds brittle, but at least it preserves the sharp edge of Esteban Sánchez’s playing. He is one of the best-suited pianists for Albéniz I have heard, because he can be both delicate and powerful, seductive and fierce, and has that sense of mischievous caprice which Albéniz – something of a Spanish Baron Munchhausen – must himself have had in abundance. The set of Recuerdos de viaje includes the evocative, almost impressionistic ‘En el mar’, and two pieces – ‘En la Alhambra’ and ‘Rumores de Caleta’ – which are prophetic of the richly ornamental style of Iberia, as is the final piece on the disc, Torre Bermeja. A welcome complement to Sanchez’s double disc of Iberia, available on the same label.
Adrian Jack