Both Isaac Albéniz and Manuel de Falla, two composers featured on this album, spent formative periods of their lives studying and working in Paris.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Maurice Ravel, a French composer, insisted on an 'implacable' tempo and 'very taut' arpeggiated chords for his 'Alborada del gracioso', like plucked guitar notes, combining French control with Spanish abandon.
Historical Context
The album explores the long and fruitful musical connections between France and Spain, a relationship influenced by historical events like the First Carlist War and French operas with Spanish themes.
Performer Biography
Imogen Cooper, the pianist on this album, is an internationally renowned interpreter of classical and romantic repertoire, having performed with major orchestras worldwide and received prestigious awards.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded using 24-bit / 96 kHz technology, which offers a dynamic range up to 48 dB greater and 256 times the resolution of standard 16-bit recordings, aiming for a better sound reproduction.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Federico Mompou, a Catalan composer with a French mother, developed a style he called 'recomienzo' (a new beginning), characterized by an absence of modulation, popular tunes, and a renunciation of development.
Compositional Technique
Debussy's 'La Soirée dans Grenade' was his first piano piece to use three staves, acknowledging his tendency for three-layer textures, possibly inspired by Chabrier's 'Habanera'.
