Nights in the Gardens of Spain (1990)
Program: FALLA: Nights in the Gardens of Spain; Master Peter’s Puppet Show; RODRIGO: Concierto de Aranjuez
Performers: Alicia de Larrocha, piano; Pepe Romero, guitar; Justino Diaz, Don Quixote; Joan Cabero, Master Peter; Montreal Symphony Orchestra/Charles Dutoit; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields/Neville Marriner
Studio: Rhombus Media/Decca 074 3152 [Distr. by Universal]
Video: 4:3 color
Audio: Spanish DTS 5.1, PCM 2.0
Length: 83 minutes
Rating: ****
A new widescreen video tour of the Alhambra to Falla’s impressionistic music is what drew me to this DVD, but I have to say I was disappointed to find that the first two selections are exactly the same as on a Decca laserdisc from the 1980s. The screen ratio is still just full screen and the original stereo soundtrack doesn’t benefit much from remixing to surround. The images are richer and higher res than the laserdisc, of course, but not quite up to the best of standard DVDs today.
Still, it would be difficult to find a finer performance than that of De Larrocha and Dutoit. She is a long time advocate of Spanish works as well as of Mozart. The filming took place at the Alhambra and the Generalife in Granada and is perfectly suited to the music. The impressive buildings and gardens reminds one of the tremendous historical heritage of the Arabs in Spain. Master Peter is a short one-act puppet opera by Falla, mounted by four puppeteers. This is the only video I know about of the lovely Concierto de Aranjuez, and guitarist Pepe of the famous Romero Family, performs the work with great verve, accompanied by Neville Marriner’s band. Some of the visuals show not only Iberian scenes but also shots of composer Rodrigo and his wife. The 36-page included booklet has essays on both Falla and Rodrigo.
– John Sunier
