Falla - Nights In The Gardens Of Spain

Manuel de Falla y Matheu (1876-1946) was one of Spain's most well-known and influential composers of the 20th Century. After studying in Madrid he moved to Paris for many years meeting composers such as Debussy, Ravel and Stravinsky - all of which had influences on his style of writing.

Manuel de Falla

Following the Spanish Civil War Falla moved to Argentina, where he lived until his death.

Nights In The Gardens Of Spain (Noches en los jardines de España) had its origins as a set of nocturnes for solo piano begun in 1909. However, at the suggestion of pianist Ricardo Viñes, Falla reworked these for piano and orchestra and the first performance of this version was given in Madrid in 1916.

The piece depicts three gardens:

• En el Generalife (In the Generalife): The first gardens are in the Generalife, the jasmine-scented gardens surrounding the Alhambra.
• Danza lejana (A Distant Dance): The second garden is an unidentified distant one in which there is an exotic dance.
• En los jardines de la Sierra de Córdoba (In the Gardens of the Sierra de Córdoba): The third set of gardens are in the Sierra de Córdoba.

Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos

This 1963 Paris Conservatoire recording is conducted by Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos (1933-2014), a Spanish conductor of German ancestry who was born in Burgos in northern Spain. Initially known as Rafael Frühbeck, it was the orchestral manager of the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra - of which Frühbeck was principal conductor between 1958 and 1962 - who suggested he add "de Burgos" to his name to make his Spanish identity more apparent. The pianist on the recording is Gonzalo Soriano (1913-1972), a protégé of Manuel de Falla himself, and one of Spain's leading classical pianists of his generation.

Cartridge: Miyajima Shilabe MC

Phono amp: Graham Slee Accession MC

Turntable: CTC Classic 301 with SME M2-12R

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