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A Theatrical Threesome

Donald Macleod views Falla through the eyes of two theatrical collaborators and sees how working with the composer could be both hugely enriching and deeply frustrating.

Donald Macleod views Falla through the eyes of two theatrical collaborators and sees how working with the composer could be both hugely enriching and deeply frustrating.

Manuel de Falla was not well suited to the role of national musical icon. He was at his happiest, living a simple, monkish existence in his spartan Granada villa; fussing over his music in pleasant isolation or enjoying the company of a few close friends. He was generous but withdrawn, quietly and devotedly religious, and had a horror of being dragged into the violent political conflicts that wracked Spain during the first half of the 20th century. Falla’s enormous talent and unique musical voice meant he was thrust into the very centre of cultural life, despite himself. He was compelled to navigate his way alongside some of music’s most colourful and potent characters, and through momentous historical events.

Today, we follow Falla’s fruitful partnership with Gregorio and María Martínez Sierra, the husband and wife team who helped the composer establish himself as a successful theatre composer and who got to know Falla as well as anyone in the years following the outbreak of World War I.

El Amor Brujo: Ritual Fire Dance (arr. Falla for piano)
Andor Foldes, piano

El pan de Ronda que sabe a verdad
Bernada Fink, soprano
Anthony Spiri, piano

Oración de las madres que tienen a sus hijos en brazos
Merlyn Quaife, soprano
Len Vorster, piano

El corregidor y la molinera (extract)
Orquestra de Cambra Teatre Lliure, conducted by Josep Pons

El Amor Brujo (complete)
Martha Senn, mezzo-soprano
Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela; conducted by Eduardo Mata

Noches en los jardines des España, III. En los jardines de la Sierra de Cordoba
Margrit Weber, piano
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Rafael Kubelík

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Manuel de Falla

    El Amor Brujo: Ritual Fire Dance (arr. Falla for piano)

    Performer: Andor Földes.
    • DG : 477-6511.
    • DG.
    • 10.
  • Manuel de Falla

    El pan de Ronda

    Performer: Anthony Spiri. Singer: Bernarda Fink.
    • HARMONIA MUNDU : HMC-902133.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 28.
  • Manuel de Falla

    Oración de las madres que tienen a sus hijos en brazos

    Performer: Len Vorster. Singer: Merlyn Quaife.
    • Naxos 8.554498.
    • Naxos.
    • 16.
  • Manuel de Falla

    El corregidor y la molinera (extract)

    Orchestra: Orquestade Cambra Teatre Lliure. Conductor: Josep Pons.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI : HMC-901520.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 16.
  • Manuel de Falla

    El Amor Brujo

    Singer: Marta Senn. Orchestra: Simon Bolivar S O. Conductor: Eduardo Mata.
    • DORION : DOR90210.
    • DORION.
    • 1.
  • Manuel de Falla

    Noches en los jardines des España, III. En los jardines de la Sierra de Cordoba

    Performer: Magrit Weber. Orchestra: Bavarian S O. Conductor: Raphael Kubelik.
    • DG : 413-1562.
    • DG.
    • 3.

Broadcasts

  • Tue 13 Jul 2021 12:00
  • Tue 13 Jun 2023 12:00

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