Lecuona: The Ultimate Collection

Ernesto Lecuona (Composer), Ernesto Lecuona (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Ernesto Lecuona
• Composer: Ernesto Lecuona
• Audio CD (February 11, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B000003G71
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,070 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #36 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Vocal & Song
  • #45 in Music > Classical > Chamber Music > By Period > Modern & 20th Century
  • #80 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Modern, 20th, & 21st Century > Forms & Genres

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This collection includes Ernesto Lecuona's complete 1954 recordings plus a series of 78s made in 1927-28. Ten of the recordings were previously unreleased. This is a lot of lightweight Cuban piano music to deal with at once, but it's definitely worth doing. Lecuona's music, which is having a major revival, may not be important. But it's consistently charming and entertaining. The 78s, which sound surprisingly good, reveal even more of a virtuoso than do the later recordings, but throughout we hear playing that expresses the spirit of the music extremely well. And yes, the famous Malagueña is here, sounding very sexy. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lecuona, the musical genious . . . . ., October 15, 2002

By 

Jose L. Benavides "Begginer historian" (Marietta, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lecuona: The Ultimate Collection (Audio CD)

I feel compelled to identify myself first. I am Cuban born who arrived in the US in 1960 at the age of 16 years old. I am a US citizen since 1965 and a US Army Veteran of Viet Nam. I will die defending the right Ms. Leslie Garber has of expresing her opinions. But what I will not condone is her ignorance. To say that Lecuona writes "lightweight Cuban piano music" and that "Lecuona's music may not be important" is to show ignorance. A musician that composes GREAT music in several genres of the music world, a musician that in all genres has highly succesful pieces, and, a musician that after many years, (70-80 years) is still heard and admired can not be called other than MUSICAL GENIOUS and a CLASSICAL MUSICIAN. His music is so beautiful that it will live forever. From his Afro-Cuban compositions, to his romantic popular boleros, to his valses, to his Zarzuelas, Lecuona demonstrates once and again, time after time his immense musical talent. His Afro-Cuban "Cafetal", his romantic boleros "Noche Azul" and "Amapola", His vibrant and colorful "Comparsa" and "Andalucia", his classical Valses, just to mention a few things, makes Lecuona to stand together with the great musicians of the world. The fact that Hollywood made a film around "Estas en mi corazon" and that great singers, like Placido Domingo, want to sing Lecuona's music speaks immensely well of Lecuona/s greatness. The fact the popular instrumental orchestras like Faith, Conniff, Mantovani, Cugat have arranged and interpreted a lot of Lecuona's music also says a lot about Lecuona's versatility in his work. Lecuona is probably important to many millions of people and his music is certainly not lightweight. And if the only thing Ms. Garber can say about "Malaguena" is that "it sounds very sexy" is to demonstrate that she does not know a thing about music. It definitely does not give her the priviledge of commenting about Lecuona's music.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars still freshh after all these years!, July 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Lecuona: The Ultimate Collection (Audio CD)

I remember listening to my grandmother play Lecuona on the piano as a young boy. Finally after years of searching for Lecuona Plays Lecuona I found it.

The music is as fresh as ever and the rhythms are intoxicating.

My favorite cut is still La Comparsa. This Spanish term refers to the group of people who participate in the carnivals and surround the floats. As the song begins softly and slowly you imagine the "La Compars" approaching you. As the song climaxes you can't help but be caught in the rythm. Finally the song fades away as you imagine "La Comparsa" moving along to intoxicate yet another group of bystanders.

Being Cuban, I am biased, but Lecuoouted is undouna is undbtedly one of the most talented yet underrated composers of the 20th Century.

Buy this collection and enjoy it! Share it with a friend or your "Comparsa".

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LECUONA IS NO LIGHTWEIGHT, February 26, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Lecuona: The Ultimate Collection (Audio CD)

Lecuona is one of the most important composers of Latin-America. He is by no means the "unimportant" and "lightweight" Leslie Gerber (whomever that may be) claims, having been hailed for performances of his earlier (and "less mature") works by the likes of Maurice Ravel.

In my opinion the highlight of the set is the devilish "La 32". It's also interesting to compare his interpretations of the same works at different times in his career, like the two recordings of "Por que te vas?" and "Amorosa", especially keeping in mind that Lecuona seldom notated and improvised quite frequently, leaving the transcription work to his students.