ATAULFO ARGENTA: FROM SPAIN WITH LOVE – Milestones of a Conducting Legend (10 CDs) DOCUMENT

Ataúlfo Argenta was born in November 1913 in a fishing village in northern Spain where his father was stationmaster. After studying music, he worked as a pianist for ten years, after which he headed for further studies at Kassel in 1941. He met Carl Schuricht, who encouraged him to pursue a career as a conductor. orchestra. In 1945, he joined the Orquesta National, where he played piano, celesta and glockenspiel, and also founded the Ensemble Cámara de Madrid. In 1947 he became chief conductor of the Orquesta National de España. In the years that followed he recorded many works by Spanish composers, including 50 Zarzuelas. The main works of his repertoire are collected for the first time in this box. As the Franco regime isolated economically but also culturally, Argenta remained unknown to international music centers. His tragic and early death – he died of carbon monoxide poisoning in January 1958 – turned him into a “myth” in Spain, and in the meantime music critics around the world have come to appreciate to praise and distinguish the extraordinary quality of Argenta’s recordings This collection testifies to the great loss by the untimely death of this conductor, especially for friends and lovers of Spanish music.

10 CDs including 12 original albums // Works by Manuel de Falla (1876-1946), Claude Debussy (1862-1918), Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909), Joaquin Turina (1882-1949), Emmanuel Chabrier (1841-1894) , Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908), Moritz Moszkowski (1854-1925), Maurice Ravel (1875-1937), Jesús Guridi (1886-1961), Tomás Bretón (1850-1923), Ernesto Halffter (1905-1989) , Franz Liszt (1811-1886) 

Tracklist

CD 1
Tracklist

■ Isaac Albéniz (1860 – 1909)
1. NAVARRA 5‘31

■ Enrique Granados (1867 – 1916)
2. GOYESCAS: Intermedio 4‘31
3. ANDALUZA 4‘08

■ Joaquin Turina (1882 – 1949) DANZAS FANTASTICAS, Op. 22
4. Exaltacion 3‘39
5. Ensueño 7‘17
6. Orgia 4‘19

■ SINFONIA SEVILLANA, Op. 23
7. I. Panorama 7‘31
8. II. Por el rio Guadalquivir 7‘03
9. III. Fiesta en San Juan de Aznalfarache 7‘25

Orquesta National de España (1, 2, 7-9) London Symphony Orchestra (3) Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, Paris (4-6)
conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta recorded / aufgenommen 1957 (3)
1953-56 (1, 2, 4-7)
Total Time 51’41

CD 2

■ Joaquin Rodrigo (1901 – 1999) CONCIERTO DE ARANJUEZ
1. I. Allegro con spirito 6’02
2. II. Adagio 10‘04
3. III. Allegro gentile 5‘27

Narciso Yepes guitar Orquesta National de España
conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta recorded / aufgenommen 1956 (?)

■ CONCIERTO DE ESTIO
(Summer Concerto / Sommerkonzert)
4. I. Preludio 7‘33
5. II. Siciliana 7‘32
6. III. Rondino 4‘38

Christian Ferras violin Orchestre National de France
conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta recorded / aufgenommen 1951 Total Time 41’23

CD 3

■ Manuel de Falla (1876 – 1946) EL AMOR BRUJO
(Love, the Magician / Der Liebeszauber)
Escenas gitanas de Andalucia. Suite del ballet (Andalusian Gypsy Scenes. Suite from the Ballet / Zigeunerszenen
aus Andalusien. / Suite aus dem Ballett) Text: Gregorio Martinez Sierra
1. I. Introducción y Escena 0‘38
(Introduction and Scene / Einleitung und Szene)
2. II. En la cueva: La noche 2‘17
(With the Gypsies: In the Evening / In der Höhle. Am Abend)
3. III. Canción del amor dolido 1‘30
(Song of Suffering Love / Lied vom Liebesschmerz)
4. IV. El Apericido 0‘12
(The Appparition / Das Gespenst)
5. V. Danza del terror 2‘13
(Dance of Terror / Tanz des Schreckens)
6. VI. El circulo mágico: Romance del pescador 2‘20 (The Magic Circle: Song of the Fisherman /
Der Zauberkreis: Erzählung des Fischers)
7. VII. A media noche: Los sortilegios 0‘23 CD 3 (Midnight: The Spells / Um Mitternacht: Die Beschwörungen)
8. VIII. Danza ritual del fuego: Para ahuyentar los malos espiritus 4‘03
(Ritual Fire Dance: To Chase Away the Evil Spirits / Ritueller Feuertanz: Zur Vertreibung der bösen Geister)
9. IX. Escena 0‘59 (Scene / Szene)
10. X. Canción del fuego fatuo 1‘31
(Song of the Will-o‘ -the Wisp / Lied vom Irrlicht)
11. XI. Pantomima 0‘50 (Pantomime)
12. XII. Danza del juego de amor 2‘59 (Dance of the Game of Love / Tanz des Liebesspiels)
13. XIII. Final. Las campanas del amanecer 4‘30 (Finale: The Bells of Dawn / Die Morgenglocken)

Teresa Berganza mezzo-soprano
Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta recorded / aufgenommen 1957

■ Claude Debussy (1862 – 1918) IMAGES POUR ORCHESTRE
14. I. Gigues 6‘52
15. II. Ibéria: Par les rues et par les chemins / 17‘54 Les Parfums de la nuit / Le Matin d’un jour de fête
16. III. Rondes de printemps 7‘37

L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta 

CD 4

■ Manuel de Falla (1876 – 1946) NOCHES EN LOS JARDINES DE ESPAŇA
(Nights in Spanish Gardens / Nächte in spanischen Gärten)
1. I. En el Generalife (Allegro tranquillo e misterioso) 9‘28
2. II. Danza lejana (Allegretto giusto – attacca:) 5‘04
3. III. En los jardines de la Sierra de Córdoba (Vivo) 8‘22
■ LA VIDA BREVE
(The Short Life / Das kurze Leben)
4. Introducción 3‘00 Gonzalo Soriano piano (1-3)
Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française
conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta recorded / aufgenommen 1957, Live
■ EL BARBERILLO DE LAVAPIES (F. A. Barbieri)
5. Preludio 4‘21
■ LA ALEGRIA DE LA HUERTA (F. Chueca)
6. Pasacalle 2‘02
■ EL DUO DE LA AFRICANA (M. Fernandez Caballero)
7. Coro de la Murmuración 2‘23
■ EL CASERIO (J. Guridi)
8. Preludio del 2. Acto 5‘43
■ LA BODA DE LUIS ALONSO (G. Giménez)
9. Intermedio 5‘27
■ EL BAILE DE LUIS ALONSO (G. Giménez)
10. Preludio 0‘50
11. Intermedio 3‘33
■ LUISA FERNANDA (F. Moreno Torroba)
12. Preludio del 3. Acto 1‘21 Orquesta Sinfónica
Coro Cantores de Madrid y Orquesta de Cámara de Madrid (7)
conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta recorded / aufgenommen 1951-56 Total Time 52’15

CD 5

■ Isaac Albéniz (1860 – 1909) IBERIA
Five Excerpts from the Suite. Orchestral arrangement by Arbos
1. I. Evocacón 5‘16
2. II. El Corpus en Sevilla (Corpus Christi en Sevilla) 7‘58
3. III. Triana 4‘32
4. IV. El Puerto 4‘24
5. V. El Albaicin 6‘59

Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, Paris
conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta recorded / aufgenommen 1953

■ Maurice Ravel (1875 – 1937)
6. ALBORADA DEL GRACIOSO 7‘12 Assez vif – Plut lent – Au mouvement

■ Manuel de Falla (1867 – 1946) EL SOMBRERO DE TRES PICOS (The Three-Cornered Hat / Der Dreispitz)
Tres Danzas:
7. Danza de los vecinos (Seguidilla) 3‘05
8. Danza del molinero (Farruca) 2‘34
9. Danza final (Jota) 6‘11

Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française (7-9)
Orchestre des Centro soli (6) conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta
recorded / aufgenommen 1957 (7-9),
Live 1956 (6)
Total Time 48’23

CD 6

■ Emmanuel Chabrier (1841 – 1894)
1. ESPAŇA 6‘29

■ Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844 – 1908)
CAPRICCIO ESPAGNOL, Op. 34
2. I. Alborada 1‘13
3. II. Variazioni 4‘17
4. III. Alborada 1‘13
5. IV. Scena e canto gitano 4‘44
6. V. Fandango asturiano 3‘12

■ Moritz Moszkowski (1854 – 1925) SPANISH DANCES, Book 1, Op. 12
7. No. 1 in C major / D-Dur 1‘44
8. No. 2 in G minor / g-Moll 4‘06
9. No. 3 in A major / A-Dur 2‘45
10. No. 4 in B flat major / B-Dur 2‘32
11. No. 5 in D major / D-Dur 2‘58 London Symphony Orchestra conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta recorded / aufgenommen 1957

■ Manuel de Falla (1876 – 1946)
EL SOMBRERO DE TRES PICOS (The
Three-Cornered-Hat / Der Dreispitz)
12. Orchestral Suite 20‘36

Orquesta National de España conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta recorded / aufgenommen 1956 (?) Total Time 56’05

CD 7

■ Jesús Guridi (1886 – 1961) DIEZ MELODÍAS VASCAS
(Ten Bascian Melodies / Zehn baskische Melodien)
1. Narrativa 1‘13
2. Amorosa 2‘07
3. Religiosa 2‘29
4. Epitalámica 1‘11
5. De ronda 1‘02
6. Amorosa 3‘33
7. De ronda 1‘11
8. Danza 2‘08
9. Elegica 2‘33
10. Festiva 2‘08

■ Ernesto Halffter (1905 – 1989) SINFONIETTA IN D MINOR / d-Moll
11. I. Pastorella (Allegro) 7‘25
12. II. Adagio 10‘51
13. III. Minuetto (Allegretto) 6‘17
14. IV. Allegro giocoso 8‘22

Orquesta National de España conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta recorded / aufgenommen 1953-56 Total Time 52’38

CD 8

■ Tomás Bretón (1850 – 1923) ESCENAS ANDALUZAS
(Andalusian Scenes / Andalusische Szenen)
1. Bolero 7‘00
2. Polo Gitano 4‘29
3. Zapateado 5‘00
4. Marcha y Saeta 7‘56
5. En la Alhambra (Serenata) 7‘10
6. Bolero de Concierto 4‘43
7. La Dolores (Jota) 7‘15

Gran Orquesta Sinfónica
conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta recorded / aufgenommen 1955 (?) Total Time 43’34

CD 9

■ Franz Liszt (1811 – 1886)
1. LES PRÉLUDES, S. 97 15‘50

Symphonic Poem / Sinfonische Dichtung L‘Orchestre de la Suisse Romande conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta recorded / aufgenommen 1954

■ PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1 IN E FLAT MAJOR
Konzert für Klavier und Orchester Nr. 1, Es-Dur
2. I. Allegro maestoso 5‘23
3. II. Quasi adagio 5‘10
4. III. Allegretto vivace – Allegro animato 4‘11
5. IV. Allegro marziale animato 3‘58

■ PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 IN A MAJOR
Konzert für Klavier und Orchester Nr. 2, A-Dur
6. I. Adagio sostenuto assai – Allegro agitato assai 6’59
7. II. Allegro moderato 5‘01
8. III. Allegro deciso – Marziale un poco meno allegro 6‘02
9. IV. Allegro animato 1‘36

Julius Katchen piano
London Philharmonic Orchestra conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta recorded / aufgenommen 1957 Total Time 54’18

CD 10

■ Franz Liszt (1811 – 1886) A FAUST SYMPHONY / Eine
Faust-Sinfonie, S.108
in drei Charakterbildern / in three character portraits
after Goethe (Version without the choral ending)
1. I. Faust 27‘18
2. II. Gretchen (Marguérite) 17‘20
3. III. Mephistophélès 16‘58

Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, Paris
conductor / Dirigent Ataúlfo Argenta recorded / aufgenommen 1955 Total Time 61’38