Sanchez: Albeniz Iberia (rec. 1968) - Ensayo ENY 15/16 (deluxe ed., 2-LP box)

$

100

redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This beautiful and rare 2-LP box set from Ensayo (ENY 15/16, Spanish pressing, plum/silver labels, stereo individual glossy laminated jackets and glossy booklet included, large cloth box) features the remarkable Spanish pianist Esteban Sánchez in a magnificent rendition of composer Isaac Albeniz’s Suite Ibera, warmly recorded in the fine acoustics of the Casino de l'Alianca del Poblenou, Barcelona, Spain, in 1968.

Anyone who has heard Sanchez’s remarkable Faure album, also for Ensayo, knows what a remarkable artist he was, capable of conjuring a unique soundworld, strong and luminous.

Incidentally, the production values for this set are quite remarkable. Each LP comes in its own heavy, glossy laminated jacket, both housed in a large and sturdy cloth box. In addition, there is an amazing 12-page booklet with original artwork by Luis Viñas and extensive notes on the music by Enrique Franco. The entire set is truly a work of art in itself.

The exact track list is as follows:

Iberia, Book I

Evocación

5:28

El Puerto

4:06

Corpus Christi en Sevilla

8:32

Iberia, Book II

Rondeña

6:47

Almería

9:58

Triana

5:35

Iberia, Book III

El Albaicin

7:27

El Polo

6:36

Lavapiés

7:29

Iberia, Book IV

Málaga

5:17

Jerez

9:44

Eritaña

5:39

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Of a Brilliant Classics CD re-issue of these performances the wonderful critic Jed Distler wrote for ClassicsToday:

“3 Disc Set - Sánchez displays an extraordinary tonal genius and communicative immediacy. No Albéniz fan can afford to miss these amazing recordings.

“With all due respect to Alicia De Larrocha's long-presumed ownership of Spanish Impressionist keyboard repertoire, when it comes to Albéniz, the late Esteban Sánchez easily rivals his more famous compatriot, and then some. If Larrocha's approach to the Iberia suite is analogous to Arthur Rubinstein's Chopin for rhythmic snap and joie de vivre, Sánchez's interpretation relates to the darker, more personalized colorations characterizing Alfred Cortot's Chopin. Outstretched rubatos in the rhapsodic Almeria and Jerez, for example, milk the music's harmonic tension to the nth degree, while the pianist's bottomless arsenal of nuances, articulations, and pedal effects juggle the composer's idiosyncratic textures like a past master tossing off a round of three-dimensional chess. Notice how effortlessly he clarifies the polyphonic trajectory in thickly scored climaxes such as those in Triana and Corpus Christi en Sevilla. And you'll make safe passage through La Vega's smoldering labyrinths, although there's nothing safe concerning Sánchez's impassioned performance of this rarely heard large-scale work. The small pieces are no less deliciously played. While the sonics are close-up and boxy, you still perceive Sánchez's extraordinary tonal genius and communicative immediacy. No Albéniz fan can afford to miss these amazing recordings.”

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This album was produced by Antonio Armet and engineered by Robert Gooch.

CONDITION:

The gradations of condition I use are as follows: MINT, Near-Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.

The condition of the box is near-MINT. There is mild shelfwear, but that is all. There are no corner breaks, seamsplits, bends, or owners' markings and the box remains perfectly solid, bright, and highly attractive in appearance – overall, an outstanding collector's copy.

The condition of the individual jackets is near-MINT – truly beautiful copies.

The condition of the booklet is near-MINT. No flaws to speak of – a superb copy.

The condition of the 2 LPs is near-MINT and playback is superb – overall, these rate as truly fine collector's copies.

PLEASE NOTE:
This LP has been carefully cleaned using a VPI cleaning machine. All LPs are provided with a new Nagaoka (or Nagaoka-style) inner sleeve. The images I've provided are of the actual item you are potentially bidding on - these are not stock images or images I've taken from other sites. Bid with confidence!

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REFUNDS:
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