Customer Reviews

Spain

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I had this on LP, and it was one of my most treasured records. I am an afficiando of Spanish composers and their imitators working in the Spanish style, and personally feel that the Reiner/Chicago combination was the best match of conductor and orchestra to date, so I admit a heavy bias in favor of this recording just because of it's pedigree. The delightful news is the recording lives up to any and all expectations. The orchestra plays superbly, the conducting inspired, and this is all much aided by one of those glorious Living Stereo recordings (which along with Mercury's Living Presence defined the state of the art at the time) which have been so lovingly transferred to CD. The performance is thoroughly idiomatic; the epitome of Spanish music. Living in small town Idaho now, I have been unable to find this locally or through any of the CD clubs I am in. I was thrilled to find it at Amazon. My order is placed, and yours should be too.

Reiner's remastered recording of El Amor Brujo really delivers on its promise of "living stereo". I honestly don't think I could distinguish this from a model digital recording. The rest of the disc was recorded in 1958 and those older recordings sound very nearly as good. Of course, these colorful performances demonstrate great Spanish flair. For some reason, the Hungarian Reiner had a special affinity for the Spanish idiom. The Chicagoans obviously enjoy this repertoire, too.

This is the greatest orchestral recording I have ever heard!