Joyas Españolas, Canciones And Baladas For Mezzo-Soprano And Piano – Silvia Alice Gianolla

This Da Vinci Classics album leads the listener in a fascinating itinerary through some masterpieces in the repertoire for voice and piano of the Iberian tradition, with works by Castilian and Catalan composers, capped by a homage to Spain by the French musician Camille Saint-Saëns. The programme opens with a set by Manuel de Falla, whose carefully selected songs build up an imaginary musical tour of Spain. Isaac Albéniz, by way of contrast, was captivated by Italian music, and wrote a cycle on lyrics by an Italian-born aristocratic poetess, reminiscent of Italian belcanto and of Francesco Paolo Tosti’s vocal chamber music. For Xavier Monsalvatge, music was not only art, but also a means for expressing sociopolitical values: and this he did with his song cycle based on Antillean suggestions and lyrics by Latin-American poets. Federico Mompou’s songs are touching and imaginatively crafted, with dense interactions between voice and piano. Saint-Saëns’ El Desdichado, written for Pauline Viardot’s daughers, is a spirited and satirical reflection on Love’s Labour’s Lost.