Manuel de Falla - El sombrero de tres picos; El amor brujo (Ernest Ansermet)

Information

Composer: Manuel de Falla

• (01-08) El sombrero de tres picos
• (09) La vida breve: Interlude - Spanish Dance No. 1
• (10-19) El amor brujo

Teresa Berganza, mezzo-soprano (1, 6)
Marina de Gabarin, mezzo-soprano (11, 16)
Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Ernest Ansermet, conductor

Date: 1955 (10-19), 1961 (1-9)
Label: Decca
http://www.deccaclassics.com/us/cat/4669912

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Review

Ansermet’s vintage 1961 recording, with the Suisse Romande Orchestra in its Legends series, and although tempos throughout do not greatly differ between the two performances, the contrast in tautness and projection of this brilliant score is quite amazing. Indeed, the comparison is a classic example of the difference between an electrifyingly great performance and a comparatively mediocre one, and between just about acceptable recording and sound which for vividness remains in the top demonstration class – four decades after it was made!

Ansermet’s opening with hard-sticked timpani, extrovert trumpeting and fervently spirited ‘Oles’ creates an altogether different sound world of dramatic primary colours and rhythmic pungency. He has the advantage of the characterful Teresa Berganza as his soloist, and the ballet swings along spontaneously, with infectious zest, the Swiss orchestra on its toes and clearly enjoying every minute. Every detail of Falla’s superb score is sharply and richly focused, the colours lighting up radiantly. Just try the opening of Ansermet’s Neighbours’ dance to hear just how this music should be played, while the horn and cor anglais fanfares which announce the gutsy ‘Miller’s Dance’ could not be more commanding. The finale just grabs the listener, and carrries the music along with thrilling impetus to make a thrillingly expansive climax. This is a truly marvellous performance and the spectacular Victoria Hall recording, produced by James Walker and remastered by Andrew Wedman could hardly be better had it been made yesterday.

Fruhbeck’s El amor brujo is more successful than his Sombrero de tres picos, and here the warmly atmospheric sound is effective enough. He has a vibrantly authentic flamenco soloist who is as dynamic as you could ask, and the slinky rubato of the ‘Pantomime’ sequence is nudged quite seductively. But in the ‘Ritual Fire Dance’ the horns are not very pungent and the closing ‘Bells of Morning’ lacks a final burst of passion from the orchestra (though not the soloist).

Ansermet’s alternative is very early stereo (1955) and not as opulent as El sombrero, but it still sounds remarkably lustrous. The performance is not quite as distinctive as its companion, but is still brightly etched, ‘El circulo magico’ being quite bewitching; and the strings as well as the horns bring splendid bite to the ‘Fire Dance’. The finale does expose the weakness of the Suisse Romande Orchestra in the middle strings, but has far more passion than Fruhbeck generates. This Decca reissue really is a remarkable CD, fully worthy of its Legend status.

-- Ivan March, Gramophone

More reviews:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2000/nov00/deFalla.htm
http://www.amazon.com/Falla-Three-Cornered-Hat-Ansermet-Berganza/dp/B00004TEUY

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Manuel de Falla (23 November 1876 – 14 November 1946) was a Spanish composer. He attended the Real Conservatorio de Música y Declamación, studied piano with José Tragó and composition with Felipe Pedrell. His first important work was the one-act opera "La vida breve". Among his best known works are two ballets ("El amor brujo" and "El sombrero de tres picos") and the nocturne for piano and orchestra "Nights in the Gardens of Spain". With Isaac Albéniz and Enrique Granados he is one of Spain's most important musicians of the first half of the 20th century.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_de_Falla

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Ernest Ansermet (11 November 1883 – 20 February 1969) was a Swiss conductor. He began conducting at the Casino in Montreux in 1912, and from 1915 to 1923 was the conductor for Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. In 1918, Ansermet founded his own orchestra, the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, toured widely in Europe and America and became famous for accurate performances of difficult modern music. After World War II, Ansermet and his orchestra rose to international prominence through a long-term contract with Decca Records.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Ansermet

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