These classic recordings from the early stereo years boast the special authority of Ernest Ansermet, who knew Manuel de Falla and conducted the stage premiere of his El sombre ... more

These classic recordings from the early stereo years boast the special authority of Ernest Ansermet, who knew Manuel de Falla and conducted the stage premiere of his El sombrero de tres picos ("The Three-Cornered Hat") for the Ballets Russes in 1919. With L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, which he founded and led for decades, Ansermet was especially noted for his interpretations of the vibrant showpieces of Stravinsky, Debussy, and other 20th-century masters. Although the orchestral playing on this reissue may not always be the most polished, it's characterful, energetic, and exuberant without fail. The dances of both the comic El sombrero and the more darkly passionate El amor brujo ("Love, the Magician") can sometimes seem like series of sparkling but disconnected gems, but here, Ansermet's sense of drama and tempo forges each work into a convincing, thrilling whole. Soprano Teresa Berganza makes a small but fine contribution to El sombrero, and Marina de Gabarain's low, throaty vocals are ideal for the gypsy songs of love and magic in El amor brujo. The Interlude and Dance from Falla's early opera La vida breve fill out this collection, providing a single-disc compendium of the Spanish composer's greatest orchestral works. less