Clifford Curzon, Erique Jorda - Curzon plays Brahms and de Falla (1946/51) [2014]

Curzon's first recording of Brahms' first concerto - plus Spanish passion - with conductor Enrique Jordá

"A freshness and shy-voiced eloquence which has the effect of setting the young Brahms vividly and appealingly before us" - The Gramophone


English pianist Clifford Curzon and Spanish (later American) conductor Enrique Jordá recorded two works together for Decca, though in the case of de Falla's Nights in the Gardens of Spain they actually recorded the work twice - a 1945 recording of the piece was remade in 1951 for LP release "for technical reasons" according to The Gramophone (at the time Decca were busy dubbing their ffrr 78s for LP release as much as making new recordings - having heard the 1945 78s it's hard to know what those 'technical reasons' could possibly have been); here we present the later recording. Jordá, judging by the Decca discography, was something of a jobbing conductor for the label at the time, leading a number of different orchestras in recordings between 1945 and 1951 - the de Falla being his final Decca outing. Decca had signed Curzon to the label in 1937 and continued recording for them regularly for 34 years - despite a professed distaste for recordings.


Tracks:

BRAHMS Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15
FALLA Nights in the Gardens of Spain (Noches en los Jardines de España)

Personnel:

Clifford Curzon, piano
National Symphony Orchestra
New Symphony Orchestra
Erique Jordá, conductor