Re: How difficult is Iberia, really?

On Sat, 2 Nov 2024 6:53:27 +0000, PPeso wrote:

On 11/1/2024 9:35 PM, DeepBlue wrote:

Ihe manadatory listening list for Iberia is
(to my ears):

>
[snip]
>

Alicia de Larrocha -- I am partial to the
earlier recordings but some people prefer
the later ones.

>
I tend to agree, the 1962 recording is better
than the 1972 afaiac. I have the opposite
reaction to her Granados recordings, the
1976 Goyescas is way more interesting than
the 1963 one (although the latter includes
a terrific El Pelele).
>
Among XXI century recordings not usually
mentioned, Grosvenor 2008 (first book only)
is worth listening.

BG does not sound idiomatic to my ears. And
it is the first book only. My litmus test is
Lavapies. I always listen to it first. If it
passes muster then I listen to the entire set.
Lavapies sounds rather disappointing in AdL's
hands, with the possible exception of the
1958 Hispavox set. In fairness to her, it
is written for pianists with bigger hands.
Cheers!