Customer Reviews

Granados: The Complete Piano Music

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I am one of those people who prefers to be introduced to a composer by a performer of the same nationality. The notion that a performer and composer of a similar background will have a similar musical soul is one that I generally subscribe too. In this case, however, Martin Jones, an Englishman, simply blows Alicia De Laroccha, the most often recommended Granados interpreter---and a Spaniard---out of the water. There is no comparison between the two. De Laroccha sounds absolutely lifeless compared to Jones' fluidity, sensuality and passion. You can almost hear someone turning the pages for her, while Jones makes the music sound spontaneous and organic. The best Granados recordings I have ever heard. Start here. And, like me, you will probably end here too.

This is a cleanly played survey of a composer whose music goes far beyond the touristy "Spanish" cliches of the few anthologized pieces. The music is well-played and recorded and now reissued at a bargain price. Highly recommended.

This is a fantastic set played beautifully by Martin Jones. All this at a very reasonable price.