JOSE ITURBI The Victor & HMV solo recordings

APR7307

3CDs
COMPACT DISC 1 (73.15)
1-2 SCARLATTI Sonatas in B minor, Kk27 & C major, Kk159
3 J S BACH Fantasia in C minor, BWV906
4 PARADIES Toccata
5-10 MOZART Piano Sonatas in A major, K331 & F major, K332
11-12 BEETHOVEN Andante favori in F major; Für Elise
13-14 SCHUMANN Arabesque, Op 18; Romance, Op 28/2
15-16 LISZT Liebesträume No 3; Les jeux d'eaux à la Villa d'Este

COMPACT DISC 2 (72.35)
1-9 CHOPIN Polonaise, Op 53; Fantasy Impromptu, Op 66; Waltzes, Op 64/1 & Op 64/2 Mazurka, Op 7/1; Nocturne, Op 32/1; Preludes, Op 28/9 & 10; Étude, Op 10/12
10-11 TCHAIKOVSKY June & November from 'The Seasons'
12 RACHMANINOV Prelude, Op 3/2
13 PADEREWSKI Minuet in G major
14 LAZAR Marche funebre
15 SAINT-SAËNS Allegro appassionato, Op 70
16-20 DEBUSSY Clair de lune; Rêverie; 2 Arabesques; Jardins sous la pluie

COMPACT DISC 3 (65.56)
1-2 DEBUSSY 2 Arabesques
3-5 ALBÉNIZ Sevilla; Córdoba; Malagueña
6-9 GRANADOS The Maiden and the Nightingale; Spanish Dances Nos 2, 5 & 10
10 LÓPEZ-CHAVARRI The Old Moorish Castle
12-13 FALLA Dance of Terror & Ritual Fire Dance
14 INFANTE Sevillañas
15-16 ITURBI Canción de cuna; Pequeña Danza Española
17-18 GOULD Blues; Boogie Woogie Etude

All titles recorded between 1933 & 1952

Spanish pianist José Iturbi was a pupil of Landowska and Victor Staub at the Paris Conservatoire and after graduation in 1913 he began a successful career in Europe, however after a sensational US debut in 1929 he worked more and more in the USA where he relocated. While continuing as a successful pianist he started a parallel career as a conductor and directed many American orchestras over the next 40 years. Perhaps his greatest claim to popular fame was his appearances in several Hollywood films, which has however tarnished his posthumous reputation, leading him to be dismissed as a 'cross-over' artist, however this is to do him a disservice as his music making retained the highest standards of craftsmanship. He made comparatively few solo recordings considering his wide repertoire but he excelled at the Spanish and French repertoire, both of which are well represented in these recordings.

APR7307 Available on Compact Disc, as a Digital Download and to Stream