More To Spain Than The Obvious

It's easy to think of the Spanish composer Rodrigo as a one hit wonder with Concierto de Aranjuez but he wrote a prolific variety of orchestral pieces, concertos and instrumental music for guitar, violin, piano and cello. This disk highlights som of the piano music in a recital by Artur Pizarro. Rodrigo was a virtuoso pinanist himself whose recitals included both his own music and representative selections of Spanish music from the 16th century onwards. The music played here ranges from nostalgic miniatures, tributes to the music of Spain's Golden Age and the composer's native Valencia, to more extended pieces that deploy subtle 20th century harmonies and textures. The jazzy tinge of some of these makes it all the more surprising to hear of the antagonism that Rodrigo reportedly felt for the Davis / Evans interpretation of the Concierto. Pizarro is a fine advocate for the budget Naxos label to have found and my particular favourites are the Cinco Piezas del Siglo XVI ( five 16th century pieces ). There aren't many obvious flamenco tinged Spanish cliches in the music which serves to point out that there is much more to Spanish art music than the few warhorses.