Aldo Ciccolini - Albéniz: Iberia & España (2023)

Iberia is a suite for piano composed between 1905 and 1909 by the Spanish composer Isaac Albéniz. It is composed of four books of three pieces each; a complete performance lasts about 90 minutes. It is Albéniz's best-known work and considered his masterpiece. It was highly praised by Claude Debussy and Olivier Messiaen, who said: "Iberia is the wonder for the piano; it is perhaps on the highest place among the more brilliant pieces for the king of instruments". Stylistically, this suite falls squarely in the school of Impressionism, especially in its musical evocations of Spain.

It is considered one of the most challenging works for the piano: "There is really nothing in Isaac Albeniz's Iberia that a good three-handed pianist could not master, given unlimited years of practice and permission to play at half tempo. But there are few pianists thus endowed."

In España: Six Album Leaves, Op. 165, Albéniz magically transports the listener to colorful locations, each with its own special Spanish flavor. These musical "postcards" are not particularly difficult to play, and are somewhere between the late intermediate and early advanced levels. This edition aids in interpretation through added fingerings, pedal and indications for subtle changes in tempo, which are integral to the performance of Spanish music. Dr. Kuehl-White studied in Barcelona with legendary Spanish pianist Alicia de Larrocha, who provided a tremendous legacy regarding the performance practice traditions of Albéniz's music. España was initially published with many errors and omissions.

Tracklist
01. España, Op. 165: No. 1, Preludio
02. España, Op. 165: No. 2, Tango
03. España, Op. 165: No. 3, Malagueña
04. España, Op. 165: No. 4, Serenata
05. España, Op. 165: No. 5, Capricho catalán
06. España, Op. 165: No. 6, Zortzico
07. Iberia, Cuaderno I: No. 1, Evocación
08. Iberia, Cuaderno I: No. 2, El puerto
09. Iberia, Cuaderno I: No. 3, El Corpus en Sevilla
10. Iberia, Cuaderno II: No. 4, Rondeña
11. Iberia, Cuaderno II: No. 5, Almería
12. Iberia, Cuaderno II: No. 6, Triana
13. Iberia, Cuaderno III: No. 7, El Albaicín
14. Iberia, Cuaderno III: No. 8, El polo
15. Iberia, Cuaderno III: No. 9, Lavapiés
16. Iberia, Cuaderno IV: No. 10, Málaga
17. Iberia, Cuaderno IV: No. 11, Jerez
18. Iberia, Cuaderno IV: No. 12, Eritaña