The art of Spanish song has been neglected for most of the last century but Hyperion has now endeavoured to put that right with a varied an consistently excellent collection of pieces from the representative Spanish composers.
The disc begins with Enrique Granados' turgid and emotional cycle, 'Coleccion de canciones amatorias' which actively demonstrates the beauty of the Spanish language set to music. Granados is also represented by 'La maja dolorosa', another collection of three songs which is quite morbid in content. Rodrigo is obviously more famous for his intrinsic contribution to the guitar repertoire but the four items included here certainly show his prowess in writing for the voice. Joaquín Nin is all but unknown and his works are definitely ripe for discovery on the testimony of these 'Cantos populares espanoles'. Carlos Gustavino is also quite mysterious but I enjoyed his three contributions to this disc, especially, 'La palomita'. Finally the Argentinian, Alberto Ginastera who produces some pretty evocative songs on his homeland.
Fink and Vignoles are collaborative and sympathetic partners and I couldn't imagine the songs being sung any better. A triumph for the Spanish song genre!
Copyright © 2002, Gerald Fenech