Customer Reviews

Lecuona: The Ultimate Collection

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
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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.

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".

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.

Lecuona is no musical lightweight. Indeed, he is a genius in capturing the feeling of a people about whom he is writing. Additionally, he is a brillant pianist. The clarity of each note is amazing, given the complexity of rhythm and at times the speed involved in his compositions. He captures the emotional nuances as only the playing by the composer can do. The combination sends chills down ones back. A new generation with great interest in Puerto Rican and Cuban music will find this a soul-capturing expression of their background. It is classically timeless.

I found this one of the most satisfying and moving collections to come out in many years. The artistry of the performer is unsurpassed. The music is delightful, dramatic and powerful. This is a collection to be loved and shared. Bravo, Lecuona!

ERNESTO LECUONA was Cuba's greatest gift to mankind. He is Cuba's compensation and apology for perpetrating on humanity aberrations such as Fidel Castro.

As a composer he was incredibly prolific and all-emcompassing. He covered every known Cuban musical form, plus he also explored European musical traditions. As a pianist, he was unequaled in virtuosity and in left-handed prowess. As an interpreter of his own piano compositions he reigns supreme and unrivaled.

This is as complete a collection of Lecuona's recorded output for RCA as we are likely to get. The remastering leaves a lot to be desired. I believe BMG could have done much better. Yet this is a must-have item for anyone interested in great music and great piano playing.

I wholeheartedly recommend this CD to anyone who wishes to experience what musical geniuses Cuba used to produce before its supply ran out and the world had to settle for the likes of The Buena Vista Social Club.

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.

For years I've been trying to locate this mythical album and finally was able to do so here! Thanks, amazon.com! Lecuona's music is for me the epitome of romantic Latin music--one of my favourite composers of all time. Don't expect bells and whistles from this album; it's simply Lecuona playing his own compositions solo on an unamplified piano. Pure heaven!

In my opinion this is one of the best CD's from Lacuona, Most of his piano compositions are recorded here (original ones), What, Ms. Leslie Gerber forgot to mention is that Mr.Lecuona was a band leader,"Lecuona and the Cuban Boys", remembers him? Or maybe she does not have sufficient information about him. The music from Lecuona still is very well alive today. I came across his recordings on my own, no one ever told me about this great pianist. I happened to hear the Malaguena by another great Cuban composer and band leader Perez Prado (The Real Mambo King) in one of his albums and Lecuona was the author. That got me interested in him. I'm pretty sure that Ms.Leslie Gerber did a good job on Lecuona review.

What a great album and great value. There is music here that will make you smile, break your heart, inspire you, and Lecuona's skill is breathtaking. If you enjoy classical piano music (with a Cuban/Spanish influence), you'll love this. No, it doesn't display the virtuosity, complexity or seriousness of Lizst, Chopin or Beethoven, but it's fun, beautiful, dramatic yet accessible. You'll love it.