Ernest Ansermet - Falla: The Three Cornered Hat

Mastered by Willem Makee

"Analogue Productions has followed up on their highly acclaimed series of 25 RCA Living Stereo SACDs with a smaller group of 9 Decca SACDs. ... Falla's The Three Cornered Hat is not frequently recorded complete, so this sensational performance by Ernest Ansermet conducting L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande is special. The music initially explodes out of the speakers and continues unabated to the end, a true and underrated sonic spectacular." — Arthur Lintgen, The Absolute Sound, Feb. 8, 2019. Read the entire review here.

This timeless gem is performed by L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, conducted by Ernest Ansermet. This is a performance to be known as "one of the greats." The composition, Three-Cornered Hat, was premiered by Ansermet, and with its lively rhythms, subtle narratives, dynamic development and vivid contrast and tone colors, this version is a masterly performance that none other appears able to exceed. The performance illustrates the ethnic taste that is rich in wild beauty in a truly vivid and dynamic way, while highlighting the lyricism of Falla's music in a sophisticated, uncompromising manner. The solo singing by the young Berganza is also worth a listen.

Recording: Victoria Hall, Geneva, February 1961 (tracks 1-9), Victor Olof (tracks 10-19)
Balance engineers: Roy Wallace (tracks 1-9), Gil Went (tracks 10-19)