Album

This splendid seven-disc set marks Alicia de Larrocha's 2003 retirement from the concert stage after an extraordinary career spanning more than seven decades. To many listeners, she is a peerless performer of Iberian (particularly Spanish and Catalan) music. Indeed, as her rendition of Manuel de Falla's Nights in the Gardens of Spain demonstrates, this Catalan pianist brilliantly captures the indefinable magic and charm of Iberian music, revealing a timeless richness and depth that lesser artists, conforming to ideas of national style, often miss. It would be a mistake, however, to define de Larrocha as an "Iberian specialist." As this set demonstrates, her rich repertoire encompasses various traditions and a timespan from the late Baroque to the present, from Bach to Xavier Montsalvatge (1912-2002). What could be less Iberian than Liszt's brooding (and astonishingly demanding) Sonata in B minor? Yet de Larrocha's rendition of this work ingeniously breaks the spell of monotony (created by almost obsessive thematic reiterations), restoring Liszt's complex work to its original brilliance by attacking the almost insurmountable technical difficulties not as obstacles but as a means to an end. For de Larrocha, music is the profound, mysterious stream that is only imperfectly defined by the linear mechanics of quantified time and form. Listening to her impeccable performance of Bach's Italian Concerto, for example, listeners hear (feel?) almost imperceptibly brief bursts energy as she intuitively grasps the overwhelming power locked in the formal edifice of Bach's music. Similarly, her exquisite reading of Haydn's Piano Concerto in D major follows the music's inner impulse underneath the rhythmic surface, translating the composer's inspiration into an extraordinary experience of lightness and breathtaking freedom. Also featured are impressive readings of works by Mozart, Chopin, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Ravel, Khachaturian, Mompou, and Beethoven.

© Zoran Minderovic, All Music Guide

CD 1 of 7
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Italian Concerto, BWV971 Work Recorded 1971 12:41 London Sinfonietta Orchestra, Alicia de Larrocha Piano, David Zinman Conductor
1	1.(Allegro)	3:55			$0.99
2	2.Andante	5:08			$0.99
3	3.Presto	3:38			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer French Suite No.6 in E, BWV817 Work Recorded 1971 14:29 London Sinfonietta Orchestra, Alicia de Larrocha Piano, David Zinman Conductor
4	1.Allemande	2:22			$0.99
5	2.Courante	1:28			$0.49
6	3.Sarabande	3:03			$0.99
7	4.Gavotte	1:09			$0.49
8	5.Polonaise	1:26			$0.49
9	6.Bourrée	1:22			$0.49
10	7.Menuet	1:27			$0.49
11	8.Gigue	2:12			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Beloved Jesu, we are here Work Recorded 1977 London Sinfonietta Orchestra, Alicia de Larrocha Piano, David Zinman Conductor
12	Beloved Jesu, we are here	3:32			$0.99
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Sanctify us by thy goodness Work Recorded 1977 London Sinfonietta Orchestra, Alicia de Larrocha Piano, David Zinman Conductor
13	Sanctify us by thy goodness	3:11			$0.99
Ferruccio Busoni Composer Chaconne in D- (after Bach, BWV1004), KiV B24 Work Recorded 1973 London Sinfonietta Orchestra, Alicia de Larrocha Piano, David Zinman Conductor
14	Chaconne in D- (after Bach, BWV1004), KiV B24 (arr. piano and orchestra)	14:01			$2.49
Johann Sebastian Bach Composer Keyboard Concerto in F-, BWV1056 Work Recorded 1979 10:39 London Sinfonietta Orchestra, Alicia de Larrocha Piano, David Zinman Conductor
15	1.[Allegro]	3:36			$0.99
16	2.Largo	3:25			$0.99
17	3.Presto	3:38			$0.99
(Franz) Joseph Haydn Composer Keyboard Concerto in D, Hob.XVIII:2 Work Recorded 1980 18:54 London Sinfonietta Orchestra, Alicia de Larrocha Piano, David Zinman Conductor
18	1.Allegro moderato	7:29			$1.49
19	2.Adagio molto	7:08			$1.49
20	3.Rondo all'unghere: Allegro assai	4:17			$0.99
CD 2 of 7
(Franz) Joseph Haydn Composer Andante with Variations in F-, Hob.XVII:6 ('Un piccolo divertimento') Work Recorded 1976 Alicia de Larrocha Piano
1	Andante with Variations in F-, Hob.XVII:6 ('Un piccolo divertimento')	13:14			$2.49
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Composer Piano Sonata No.11 in A, K.331 ('Alla turca') Work Recorded 1973 20:04 Alicia de Larrocha Piano
2	1a.Theme: Andante grazioso	1:53			$0.49
3	1b.Variation 1	1:09			$0.49
4	1c.Variation 2	1:09			$0.49
5	1d.Variation 3	1:33			$0.49
6	1e.Variation 4	1:16			$0.49
7	1f.Variation 5	2:44			$0.99
8	1g.Variation 6	1:02			$0.49
9	2.Menuetto. Trio	6:03			$0.99
10	3.Rondo alla turca	3:15			$0.99
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Composer Piano Sonata No.18 in D, K.576 ('Hunt') Work Recorded 1977 14:50 Alicia de Larrocha Piano
11	1.Allegro	4:52			$0.99
12	2.Adagio	5:51			$0.99
13	3.Allegretto assai	4:07			$0.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer 7 Bagatelles, Op.33 Work Recorded 1979 20:28 Alicia de Larrocha Piano
14	No.1 in Eb (Andante grazioso quasi allegretto)	3:52			$0.99
15	No.2 in C (Scherzo: Allegro)	2:50			$0.99
16	No.3 in F (Allegretto)	2:04			$0.99
17	No.4 in A (Andante)	3:30			$0.99
18	No.5 in C (Allegro ma non troppo)	3:08			$0.99
19	No.6 in D (Allegretto quasi andante)	2:52			$0.99
20	No.7 in Ab (Presto)	2:12			$0.99
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Composer Variations sérieuses in D-, Op.54 Work Recorded 1970 Alicia de Larrocha Piano
21	Variations sérieuses in D-, Op.54	11:34			$1.99
CD 3 of 7
Frédéric François Chopin Composer 24 Preludes, Op.28 Work Recorded 1974 39:45 Alicia de Larrocha Piano
1	1.Agitato in C	0:40			$0.49
2	2.Lento in A-	2:13			$0.99
3	3.Vivace in G	0:51			$0.49
4	4.Largo in E-	1:55			$0.49
5	5.Molto allegro in D	0:36			$0.49
6	6.Lento Assai in B-	2:12			$0.99
7	7.Andantino in A	0:46			$0.49
8	8.Molto agitato in F#-	1:48			$0.49
9	9.Largo in E	1:34			$0.49
10	10.Molto allegro in C#-	0:29			$0.49
11	11.Vivace in B	0:46			$0.49
12	12.Presto in G#-	1:08			$0.49
13	13.Lento in F#	3:10			$0.99
14	14.Allegro in Eb-	0:29			$0.49
15	15.Sostenuto in Db ('Raindrop')	5:42			$0.99
16	16.Presto con fuoco in Bb-	1:09			$0.49
17	17.Allegretto in Ab	3:39			$0.99
18	18.Molto allegro in F-	1:00			$0.49
19	19.Vivace in Eb	1:13			$0.49
20	20.Largo in C-	2:01			$0.99
21	21.Cantabile in Bb	2:04			$0.99
22	22.Molto agitato in G-	0:44			$0.49
23	23.Moderato in F	1:00			$0.49
24	24.Allegro appassionato in D-	2:36			$0.99
Frédéric François Chopin Composer Berceuse, Op.57 Work Alicia de Larrocha Piano
25	Berceuse, Op.57	4:49			$0.99
Frédéric François Chopin Composer Piano Concerto No.2 in F-, Op.21 Work Recorded 1970 33:46 Sergiu Comissiona Conductor, Alicia de Larrocha Piano, L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande Orchestra
26	1.Allegro maestoso	15:24			$2.49
27	2.Larghetto	9:35			$1.49
28	3.Allegro vivace	8:47			$1.49
CD 4 of 7
Franz Peter Schubert Composer Piano Sonata No.21 in Bb, D.960 Work Recorded 1981 39:58 Alicia de Larrocha Piano
1	1.Molto moderato	19:13			$3.49
2	2.Andante sostenuto	8:32			$1.49
3	3.Scherzo: Allegro vivace con delicatezza. Trio	4:06			$0.99
4	4.Allegro ma non troppo	8:07			$1.49
Franz Peter Schubert Composer 4 Impromptus, D.899, Op.90 Work Recorded 1978 Alicia de Larrocha Piano
5	No.4 in Ab: Allegretto	7:38			$1.49
Franz Liszt Composer Piano Sonata in B-, S.178 Work Recorded 1975 30:00 Alicia de Larrocha Piano
6	1.Lento assai. Allegro energico; 2.Grandioso. Recitativo	12:10			$1.99
7	3.Andante sostenuto. Quasi adagio	6:59			$0.99
8	4.Allegro energico	10:51			$1.99
CD 5 of 7
Robert Alexander Schumann Composer Fantasy in C, Op.17 Work Recorded 1975 31:54 Alicia de Larrocha Piano
1	1.Durchaus phantastisch und leidenschaftlich vorzutragen. Im Legendenton. Erstes Tempo	13:35			$2.49
2	2.Mäßig: Durchaus energisch	8:13			$1.49
3	3.Langsam getragen. Durchweg leise zu halten	10:06			$1.99
Robert Alexander Schumann Composer Allegro in B-, Op.8 Work Recorded 1971 Alicia de Larrocha Piano
4	Allegro in B-, Op.8	9:55			$1.49
Robert Alexander Schumann Composer 3 Romanzen, Op.28 Work Recorded 1971 Alicia de Larrocha Piano
5	2.No.2 in F#	3:27			$0.99
Robert Alexander Schumann Composer Piano Concerto in A-, Op.54 Work Recorded 1980 33:17 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Charles Dutoit Conductor, Alicia de Larrocha Piano
6	1.Allegro affettuoso. Andante espressivo. Allegro	16:09			$2.99
7	2.Intermezzo: Andante grazioso	5:23			$0.99
8	3.Allegro vivace	11:45			$1.99
CD 6 of 7
Antonio Soler Composer Sonata No.42 in G- Work Recorded 1979 Alicia de Larrocha Piano
1	Sonata No.42 in G-	4:05			$0.99
Antonio Soler Composer Sonata No.15 in D- Work Recorded 1979 Alicia de Larrocha Piano
2	Sonata No.15 in D-	4:35			$0.99
Antonio Soler Composer Sonata No.89 in F Work Recorded 1979 Alicia de Larrocha Piano
3	Sonata No.89 in F	3:24			$0.99
Joaquín Turina Composer Danzas andaluzas (3) for piano, Op.8 Work Recorded 1975 Alicia de Larrocha Piano
4	No.3. Zapatadeo	4:02			$0.99
Enrique Granados Composer 12 Spanish Dances, Op.37, H.142 Work Recorded 1980 14:03 Alicia de Larrocha Piano
5	4.Villanesca: Allegretto alla pastorale	5:53			$0.99
6	5.Andaluza: Andantino quasi Allegretto	4:23			$0.99
7	6.Rondella aragonesa: Allegretto poco a poco accelerando	3:47			$0.99
Enrique Granados Composer Goyescas, H.64, DLR 2:4 Work Recorded 1976 Alicia de Larrocha Piano
8	7.El pelele, H.106	4:32			$0.99
Xavier Montsalvatge Composer Sonatina for Yvette, for piano Work Recorded 1970 9:49 Alicia de Larrocha Piano
9	1.Vivo e spiritoso	3:32			$0.99
10	2.Moderato molto	4:08			$0.99
11	3.Allegretto	2:09			$0.99
Federico Mompou Composer 12 Preludes, for piano Work Recorded 1983 Alicia de Larrocha Piano
12	7.Palmier d'étoiles	2:15			$0.99
Isaac Albéniz Composer España: 6 hojas de album, Op.165, B.37 Work Recorded 1975 Alicia de Larrocha Piano
13	2.Tango	2:39			$0.99
Isaac Albéniz Composer Iberia Suite, B.47 Books 1-4...Iberia Suite for piano, B.47, Book 1 Work Recorded 1972 18:34 Alicia de Larrocha Piano
14	1.Evocación	5:47			$0.99
15	2.El puerto	4:07			$0.99
16	3.El Corpus en Sevilla	8:40			$1.49
Manuel de Falla Composer Fantasía baetica, G.55 (orchestrated by Halffter) Work Recorded 1973 Alicia de Larrocha Piano
17	Fantasía baetica, G.55 (orchestrated by Halffter)	12:43			$1.99
CD 7 of 7
Manuel de Falla Composer Noches en los jardines de España (Nights in the Gardens of Spain), for piano and orchestra, G.49 Work Recorded 1970 24:30 Sergiu Comissiona Conductor, Alicia de Larrocha Piano, L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande Orchestra
1	1.En el Generalife: Allegro tranquillo e misterioso	10:20			$1.99
2	2.Danza lejana: Allegretto giusto	5:19			$0.99
3	3.En los jardines de la Sierra de Córdoba: Vivo	8:51			$1.49
Aram Khachaturian Composer Piano Concerto in Db Work Recorded 1972 36:37 London Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Alicia de Larrocha Piano, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos Conductor
4	1.Allegro ma non troppo e maestoso	15:35			$2.49
5	2.Andante con anima	10:44			$1.99
6	3.Allegro brillante	10:18			$1.99
Maurice Ravel Composer Piano Concerto for the Left Hand Work Recorded 1972 London Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra, Lawrence Foster Conductor, Alicia de Larrocha Piano
7	Piano Concerto for the Left Hand	18:46			$2.99