Ataúlfo Argenta & The London Symphony Orchestra Argenta Espana! Hybrid Stereo SACD

Hybrid Stereo SACD!
This recording from 1956/57 is sonically one of the best ever produced by DECCA. It is one of the most famous demo discs in the hi-fi world and was the finest advertisement for early stereophony. Recorded at London's Kingsway Hall by Gordon Parry, Spanish conductor Ataúlfo Argenta presents a programme of Spanish music – interestingly enough, written mainly by composers of non-Spanish origin. The London Symphony Orchestra plays with unprecedented dynamics, pure pleasure, precision and clarity.
Most classical devotees know that Espana! features legendary Spanish conductor Ataulfo Argenta leading the London Symphony Orchestra in a program of so-called "Spanish" blockbusters. But, ironically, only one piece is penned by a Spanish composer (Granados, "Danza Espanola") while the others are by a Russian (Rimsky Korsakov, "Capriccio Espagnol"), German (Moszkowski, "5 Spanish Dances"), and Frenchman (Chabrier, "España"). The LP version was initially issued in the United States as one of the index recordings of London Records' vaunted "blueback" series, known for its demonstration-quality sound. This Hybrid SACD plays in both CD and SACD players, as well as all SACD-compatible DVD players.
"The original Decca LP entitled Espana, which contains Rimsky Korsakov's Capriccio Espagnol, Granados' Andalusia, Chabrier's Espania, and Five Spanish Dances by Moszkowski played by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ataulfo Argenta was designed to be a sonic showpiece. The performances are all excellent, but not at all garish or overdone..." - Arthur Lintgren, The Absolute Sound, January 2019

Features:

• Super Audio CD
• SACD Stereo SACD Layer
• This Hybrid SACD contains a 'Red Book' Stereo CD Layer which is playable on most conventional CD Players!

Musicians:

• Rimsky-Korsakov / Granados / Chabrier / Moszkowski, composer
• Ataúlfo Argenta, conductor
• The London Symphony Orchestra

Selections:

Emmanuel Chabrier (1841-1894)
1. España Rhapsody
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908)
Capriccio Espagnol, Op.34
2. I. Alborada
3. II. Variazioni
4. III. Alborada
5. IV. Scena e canto gitano
6. V. Fandango asturiano
Enriqué Granados (1867-1916)
Danza espanola No.5 in E minor, Op.37
7. Andaluza
Moritz Moszkowski (1854-1925)
Spanish Dances Book I, Op.12
8. No.1 in C Major
9. No.2 in G Minor
10. No.3 in A Major
11. No.4 in B Flat Major
12. No.5 in D Major
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Images pour orchestre
13. I. Gigues
14. II. Ibéria: Par les rues et par les chemins. Les Parfums de la nuit. Le Matin d'un jour de fête
15. III. Rondes de printemps