GRANADOS : Azulejos • Oriental • Valse de concert (Douglas Riva) (2001) FLAC (tracks), lossless

 "Like its immediate predecessor, Volume 6 in Douglas Riva's complete Granados piano music survey for Naxos explores rarely-heard repertoire (in three cases, world-premiere recordings). Among the seven pieces based on Spanish Folk Songs that open the disc, the rhythmically vivacious sixth (Zambra) and seventh (Zapateado) seem the most substantial from a melodic and harmonic angle, and they give strong hints of the more complex and personal style that would manifest itself throughout Goyescas. El jardi d'Elisenda features lovely high-register writing that plays right into Riva's musical sensitivity.

There are times, though, when the music's sultry subtext requires more impulsive characterization, rhythmic snap, and darkness on the surface than Riva is willing to concede, such as in the Danza caracteristica, Sardana, and Jacara. On the other hand, Riva navigates the Three Impromptus' madcap stylistic shifts with elegant understatement. The engineering is fine...As always, Riva's scholarly booklet notes inform and delight." by Jed Distler

Enrique Granados (1867-1916)

1    Albeniz/Granados: Azulejos (Mosaic Tiles)
2    Valse de Concert
3    A la pradera
4-10    Escenas poeticas (Poetic Scenes)
11    Fantasia - Cheherezada
12    Arabesca
13    Cancion arabe
14    Moresque
15    Cancion morisca
16    Oriental - Theme with Variations, Intermezzo, Finale

Douglas Riva - Piano