Falla: El Amor Brujo (original version of 1915) / 7 Canciones Populares Españolas

Manuel de Falla (Composer), Jesús López-Cobos (Conductor), Alicia Nafé (Performer), Lausanne Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Alicia Nafé
• Orchestra: Lausanne Chamber Orchestra
• Conductor: Jesús López-Cobos
• Composer: Manuel de Falla
• Audio CD (August 31, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Denon Records
• ASIN: B0000034SZ
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #432,668 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. El Amor brujo, ballet for mezzo-soprano & small orchestra in 1 act, G. 44: Scene 1, No. 1, 'Introduccion y Escena'

2. El Amor brujo, ballet for mezzo-soprano & small orchestra in 1 act, G. 44: Scene 1, No. 2, 'Cancion del amor dolido'

3. El Amor brujo, ballet for mezzo-soprano & small orchestra in 1 act, G. 44: Scene 1, No. 3, 'Sortilegio'

4. El Amor brujo, ballet for mezzo-soprano & small orchestra in 1 act, G. 44: Scene 1, No. 4, 'Danza del fin del dia'

5. El Amor brujo, ballet for mezzo-soprano & small orchestra in 1 act, G. 44: Scene 1, No. 5, 'Escena' (El amor vulgar)

6. El Amor brujo, ballet for mezzo-soprano & small orchestra in 1 act, G. 44: Scene 1, No. 6, 'Romance del pecador'

7. El Amor brujo, ballet for mezzo-soprano & small orchestra in 1 act, G. 44: Scene 1, No. 7, 'Intermedio'

8. El Amor brujo, ballet for mezzo-soprano & small orchestra in 1 act, G. 44: Scene 2, No. 8, 'Introduccion' (El fuego fatuo)

9. El Amor brujo, ballet for mezzo-soprano & small orchestra in 1 act, G. 44: Scene 2, No. 9, 'Escena' (El terror)

10. El Amor brujo, ballet for mezzo-soprano & small orchestra in 1 act, G. 44: Scene 2, No. 10, 'Danza del fuego fatuo'

11. El Amor brujo, ballet for mezzo-soprano & small orchestra in 1 act, G. 44: Scene 2, No. 11, 'Interludio'

12. El Amor brujo, ballet for mezzo-soprano & small orchestra in 1 act, G. 44: Scene 2, No. 12, 'Cancion del fuego fatuo'

13. El Amor brujo, ballet for mezzo-soprano & small orchestra in 1 act, G. 44: Scene 2, No. 13, 'Conjuro para reconquistar el amor perdid

14. El Amor brujo, ballet for mezzo-soprano & small orchestra in 1 act, G. 44: Scene 2, No. 14, 'Escena' (El amor popular) (deleted)

15. El Amor brujo, ballet for mezzo-soprano & small orchestra in 1 act, G. 44: Scene 2, No. 15, 'Danza y cancion de la bruja fingida'

16. El Amor brujo, ballet for mezzo-soprano & small orchestra in 1 act, G. 44: Scene 2, No. 16, 'Final' (Las campanas del amanecer)

17. Popular Spanish Songs (7), for voice & piano, G. 40: El paño moruno

18. Popular Spanish Songs (7), for voice & piano, G. 40: Seguidilla murciana

19. Popular Spanish Songs (7), for voice & piano, G. 40: Asturiana

20. Popular Spanish Songs (7), for voice & piano, G. 40: Jota

See all 23 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Falla's El Amor Brujo, or Love the Magician, is a 1915 work that virtually made Falla's reputation. Along with Albéniz and Granados, Falla drew heavily on nationalistic sources for his music, promoting the rich tapestries of Spanish folk roots. El Amor Brujo exists in two versions--a stage version for speakers and dancers, and a purely orchestral version. This disc is of the original 1915 version, but with a larger orchestra and extended lines of narration. This is an excellent recording and will come as a surprise to those who know only the latter version. --Paul Cook

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A different way of hearing a masterpiece, February 11, 2006

By 

Richard Zencker (Scottsdale, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Falla: El Amor Brujo (original version of 1915) / 7 Canciones Populares Españolas (Audio CD)

I've known the "revised" version of El Amor Brujo since childhood; it's a favorite. But about 30 years ago I became aware that it was not the original version. I couldn't believe this music was originally conceived for such small forces (the original scoring is for flute, oboe, trumpet, horn, bells, piano, and strings). I was interested in finding the score and possibly presenting it, but was unable to locate parts at the time.

Almost 20 years later I found this recording, which states "original version 1915" on the cover. It certainly sounds like a larger ensemble than the scoring would suggest (the score is available through Chester Novello).

Initially I was quite disappointed in this, since the original is not a ballet at all, but a zarzuela, with quite a bit of spoken dialogue. The Spanish is an Andalusian dialect, and may possibly be too idiomatic for some who know Spanish to follow. And the inability to see the important stage action may make it impossible to identify the characters. I cannot say, since I am not at all fluent in the language, and consequently thought the dialogue quite a distraction.

But lately I have become quite fond of this recording. As mentioned, the orchestral sound is quite stunning, and there is quite a bit here that de Falla later excised. The order of the movements is completely different, and some titles have been switched as well. The plot is rather different as well; instead of a jealous ghost, we have a story of an unfathful lover.

I feel that becoming familiar with this version has only increased my appreciation for the work. I am not sure I agree with the assertion in the notes that this "does not attain the artistic heights of the revised version." It would have been nice for this to have been filmed, since the action is an integral part of the work. (One thinks of Carlos Saura's film version, which is an expansion of the later revision.) I think the revised version was simply the result of an effort to make this work comprehensible to an international audience.

The disc also offers the "Seven Popular Spanish Songs" in an intriguing arrangement by Luciano Berio (!). At first I was none too pleased with the soloist, Alicia Nafe -- but again, time has altered this opinion, and I now feel her idiomatic approach suits this music quite well, since the material is "popular" rather than "operatic." It's also interesting that the obvious relation of the Jota here to the one that concludes "The Three-Cornered Hat" is unmentioned in the liner notes.

5.0 out of 5 stars But for the less sophisticated ..., September 25, 2008

By 

Paul F. Bryant - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Falla: El Amor Brujo (original version of 1915) / 7 Canciones Populares Españolas (Audio CD)

I gladly yield to reviewer Zencker's musicologically savvy view, but for me this Amor Brujo was a revelation. I first heard it on my NPR station and about fell outta bed. It's so much richer, wilder, ethnically authentic than the relatively domesticated, orchestrally "upholstered" version I've long known (and loved). Now I must cast it aside for this version.