Alicia de Larrocha : Spanish Serenade

You can still find Alicia de Larrocha's classic late-fifties recording of all of Falla's piano music and transcriptions on EMI 64527-2, in performances marginally fresher than these. But the current disc has several advantages over the earlier recording. One is the glorious sound of a piano in the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, one of America's great concert halls. Another is the opportunity to make the acquaintance of de Larrocha's friend Xavier Montsalvatge, who is still, in his eighties, writing music of great freshness and wit.If you love Montsalvatge's sense of humor, go for the present disc and give up some Falla arrangements. --Leslie Gerber