Search - Isaac Albeniz, Esteban Sanchez :: Albeniz

There's more than one great Spanish pianist!

09/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I never thought I'd want to buy any recordings of these works besides those by Alicia de Larrocha, but I heard most of this album on the radio one night and had to have it. I don't want to waste time trying to compare Sr. Sanchez with Alicia--each is wonderful in his or her own way. These interpretations are vibrantly emotional and delicately nuanced . . . who can really describe music??? I can't. I know that I love this recording, and I think you won't be disappointed if you buy it. One of the most interesting pieces is the Asturias, which Sanchez takes at breakneck speed. The notation in my edition of the score is "Allegro ma non troppo," but I think he succeeds with this presto version, even if he can't quite keep up a steady tempo when he comes to those wild jumps starting at measure 25."