Search - Ernesto Lecuona, Carole Farley, John Constable :: On a Night Like This / En Una Noche Asi: Ernesto Lecuona Love Songs

A BEAUTIFUL NEW LECUONA RECORDING

M.L.S. | Princeton, NJ | 10/17/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ernesto Lecuona wrote hundreds of songs, and yet only a handful are known today, and most people would not even

know that the composer is Lecuona. He was very much in fashion

during the Carmen Miranda movie days, and his band, the Lecuona Cuban Boys was legendary. Placido Domingo's old LP (also released a few years ago on CD) was splendid, but the orchestral arrangements seemed too lush and overstated. Lecuona's simple harmonies and lovely melodies are best suited in a more intimate frame, such as this marvelous new recording by Carole Farley and pianist John Constable. They truly bring out the beauty in these songs. Each one is a gem. Great artistry and professionalism. Bravo, and more please. And bravo to the enterprising Swedish label BIS for continuing their very successful Lecuona series.

Marvin L. Shafer

Princeton, N.J."

LECUONA: NEW GREAT RECORDING

J.P. | London, England | 10/17/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the first Lecuona I have ever heard, and I am now a convert! I shall try to get as many Lecuona CD's as I can find,

not only the vocal albums, but the piano recordings, of which there seem to be many. I had not heard of this composer before,

so the love songs album by Carole Farley was a complete revelation. I speak and teach Spanish, so I was able to enjoy the poems as well. Many of these poems are actually banal and repetitious, (with the great exception of the last one, which

is remarkable). But then, most romantic ballads of the period

are similar in scope. The music is very beautiful. The performances, by both artists, are oustanding. Ms. Farley posseses a very beautiful, warm tone, which lends itself beautifully to these songs. The sound of the CD is first-class,

a demonstration record.

June Spencer

New York, NY"

GREAT LECUONA RECORDING BY CAROLE FARLEY & JOHN CONSTABLE

G.F. | Miami, Florida | 10/17/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I probably have one of the largest Lecuona CD collections, including most of the original releases by the Lecuona Cuban Boys, and most of Lecuona solo recordings. Therefore, it is

with this experience, and all the research I have made -over

a lifetime- in the composer's work, that I feel confident

in declaring the new release by Carole Farley and John

Constable an outstanding achievement in every sense. First

of all, it is a joy to hear. Ms. Farley's voice never sounded

better. I have a number of her recordings: Beethoven 9th Symphony with the RPO (on Deutsche Grammophone); two CD's pf Prokofiev's songs (in Russian), one for Chandos and on on ASV;

a marvelous CD of Grieg songs with the Philharmonia Orchestra on Dinemec; Richard Strauss opera arias on Chandos; Tchaikovsky opera arias, also on Chandos; an unforgettable rendition of Ned Rorem's songs with the composer at the piano (Naxos), and a VHS

on DECCA, the opera "La Voix Humaine" by Cocteau/Poulenc, coupled with Menotti's "The Telephone" (I have read it will soon be re-released on DVD; wonderful news). This versatily is incredible. I have heard her Metropolitan Opera Lulu, as well as her Lady Macbeth (Shostakovich), also at the MET, but unfortunately, as far as I know, she has never recorded these works. The Lecuona songs album is remarkable for so many reasons. John Constable, known for his recordings of Mozart operas (in which he plays the harpsichord), and many barroque works, is also known as a specialist in contemporary and avant-garde music. I have several of his recordings with the London Symphonetta, including several works by Elliot Carter. In the Poulenc CD he also shows, like Carole Farley, great musicality, versatility, and complete understanding of the idiom. Both are first-rate musicians, obviously, and judging from the results of this collaboration, they both seem to love Lecuona's beautiful songs. This CD should truly put this music on the map, as the critics of the main music magazines have been saying.

Gonzalo Fernandez

Miami, FL"