For those not in the know, Alicia de Larrocha was a Spanish pianist and composer and was considered one of the great piano legends of the 20th century.

Indeed, Reuters called her "the greatest Spanish pianist in history", Time "one of the world's most outstanding pianists," and The Guardian "the leading Spanish pianist of her time".

Her first American recitals in 1954 and 1955 coincided with her first major label recordings, made in New York for American Decca, all reissued as part of the present collection.

Though she broached the recording process reluctantly, she nonetheless recorded a large discography and it was her association with British Decca between 1970 and 1988 that was to be her longest and most fruitful major label relationship.

She won multiple Grammy Awards and a Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts and is credited with bringing greater popularity to the compositions of Isaac Albéniz and Enrique Granados.

In 1995, she became the first Spanish artist to win the UNESCO Prize.

Decca Classics now presents Alicia de Larrocha: Complete Decca Recordings, a magnificent 41CD box-set which heralds a significant program of digital releases alongside a strong social campaign by Decca for the revered Spanish pianist.

Thanks to a new collaboration with the Estate, Decca have secured editorial control of her streaming and official social platforms. More on this shortly, but her daughter and biographer are both confirmed as spokespersons.

The music of Spain is central to this collection, and Larrocha’s interpretations and characterizations brought new meaning and importance to these works and remain the gold standard.

The highlights include: Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain, Albéniz’ Ibéria, and Granados’ Goyescas. Indeed, when it came to 19th-century virtuoso fare, key corners of the French repertoire, and the Russian Romantics, de Larrocha positively flourished: The Khachaturian Concerto; Rachmaninov’s Second and Third Concertos; Franck’s Symphonic Variations; Ravel’s Concerto, Grieg’s Piano Sonata [previously unreleased], Mendelssohn’s Variations.

In truth, Larrocha’s Schumann playing is fluent and poetic; notice, for example, the Concerto, Kreisleriana, Faschingsschwank aus Wien, the C Major Fantasy, the F-sharp Novelette, plus both analogue and digital versions of the rarely heard B Minor Allegro and the perpetually popular Carnaval.

A Decca artist for nearly 20 years, her interpretations of Spanish music remain the gold standard, but she was equally at home with Bach, Mozart, 19th-century virtuoso fare and the Russian Romantics.

Also included are previously-unreleased recordings of Grieg and Albéniz; 2 CDs of her early Hispavox/EMI Madrid recordings of piano encores; and an excerpt from a new biography of Ms Larrocha by Mònica Pagès.

Contents:
Halffter, E: Danza de la pastore
Halffter, E: Danza de la gitana
Surinach: Trois Chansons et Danses Espagnoles
Nin-Culmell: Canción de Labrador (from Tonadas)
Nin-Culmell: Copla Castellana (from Tonadas)
Nin-Culmell: Canción Otoñal (from Tonadas)
Nin-Culmell: Seguidilla murciana (from Tonadas)
Nin-Culmell: Canción de trilla (from Tonadas)
Nin-Culmell: Muñerra (from Tonadas)
Mompou: Cancion y danza No. 4
Mompou: Cancion y danza No. 5
Mompou: Cancion y danza No. 6
Montsalvatge: Sonatine pour Yvette
Montsalvatge: Habanera
Grieg: Lyric Pieces Op. 54: No. 4 - Nocturne
Grieg: Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 7
Mendelssohn: Caprice, Op. 33 No. 1
Mendelssohn: Variations sérieuses in D minor Op. 54
Falla: Noches en los jardines de España
L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande Sergiu Comissiona Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21
L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande Sergiu Comissiona Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Bach, J S: Italian Concerto, BWV971
Bach, J S: French Suite No. 6 in E major, BWV817
Bach, J S: Fantasia & Fugue in C minor, BWV906
Bach, J S: English Suite No. 2 in A minor, BWV807
Bach, J S: Chorale Prelude BWV731 'Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier'
Bach, J S: Cantata No. 22 "Jesus nahm zu sich die Zwölfe": Mortifie-nous par ton bonté
Bach, J S: Partita for solo violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV1004: Chaconne
Schumann: Faschingsschwank aus Wien, Op. 26
Schumann: Allegro in B minor, Op. 8
Schumann: Romance in F sharp major, Op. 28 No. 2
Schumann: Fantasie in C major, Op. 17
Schumann: Carnaval, Op. 9
Schumann: Kreisleriana, Op. 16
Schumann: Novelette, Op. 21 No. 8 in F sharp minor
Schumann: Carnaval, Op. 9
Schumann: Allegro in B minor, Op. 8
Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Charles Dutoit Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Khachaturian: Piano Concerto in D flat major
London Philharmonic Orchestra Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Franck, C: Symphonic Variations for piano & orchestra, M46
London Philharmonic Orchestra Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Liszt: Piano Sonata in B minor, S178
Albéniz: Iberia, books 1-4
Ravel: Piano Concerto in G major
London Philharmonic Orchestra Lawrence Foster Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Ravel: Piano Concerto in D major (for the left hand)
London Philharmonic Orchestra Lawrence Foster Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Fauré: Fantaisie for piano & orchestra, Op. 111
London Philharmonic Orchestra Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Albéniz: Navarra
Albéniz: Cantos de España (5), Op. 232
Albéniz: Sonata in D
Albéniz: Puerta de tierra - Bolero (No. 5 from Recuerdos de Viaje, Op. 71)
Albéniz: Pavana-Capricho Op. 12
Albéniz: Rumores de la caleta (No. 6 from Recuerdos de Viaje, Op. 71)
Albéniz: Malagueña (No. 3 from Espana, Op. 165)
Albéniz: Sevilla (from Suite Española, Op. 47)
Soler, A: Keyboard Sonata No. 87 in G minor
Soler, A: Keyboard Sonata No. 84 in D major
Granados: Danza española, Op. 37 No. 7 'Valenciana'
Granados: Danza española, Op. 37 No. 5 'Andaluza'
Turina: Sacromonte (No. 5 from Danzas gitanas, Set 1, Op. 55)
Turina: Zapateado
Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major, K331 'Alla Turca'
Mozart: Fantasia in C minor, K475
Mozart: Rondo in D major, K485
Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 9 in D major, K311
Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 10 in C major, K330
Mozart: Fantasia in D minor, K397
Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 12 in F major, K332
Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 16 in C major, K545 'Facile'
Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 18 in D major, K576 'Hunt'
Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 4 in E flat major K282
Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 8 in A minor, K310
Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C minor, K457
Mozart: Fantasia in C minor, K475
Haydn: Andante & Variations in F minor, Hob.XVII:6 (Sonata - un piccolo divertimento)
Haydn: Keyboard Concerto No. 2 in D major, Hob.XVIII:2
London Sinfonietta David Zinman Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Falla: Cuatro piezas españolas
Falla: Fantasía Bética
Falla: Three dances from El Sombrero de Tres Picos
Falla: El Amor Brujo: Suite
Chopin: Preludes (24), Op. 28
Chopin: Berceuse in D flat major, Op. 57
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Charles Dutoit Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Charles Dutoit Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Montsalvatge: Concerto Breve for Piano & Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Surinach: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (1973)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Granados: Goyescas (piano suite)
Granados: Tonadillas
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 25 in C major, K503
Chamber Orchestra Of Europe Georg Solti Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat major, K595
Chamber Orchestra Of Europe Georg Solti Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K491
Chamber Orchestra Of Europe Georg Solti Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 26 in D major, K537 'Coronation'
Chamber Orchestra Of Europe Georg Solti Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 73 'Emperor'
Beethoven: Bagatelles (7), Op. 33
Los Angeles Philharmonic Zubin Mehta Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 12 in A major, K414
London Sinfonietta David Zinman Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Bach, J S: Keyboard Concerto No. 5 in F minor, BWV1056
London Sinfonietta David Zinman Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Granados: Danzas españolas, Op. 37 Nos. 1-12
Scarlatti, D: Keyboard Sonata K9 in D minor
Scarlatti, D: Keyboard Sonata K6 in F major
Scarlatti, D: Keyboard Sonata K10 in D minor
Scarlatti, D: Keyboard Sonata K8 in G minor
Scarlatti, D: Keyboard Sonata K13 in G major
Scarlatti, D: Keyboard Sonata K11 in C minor
Scarlatti, D: Keyboard Sonata K28 in E major
Bach, J S: Partita for solo violin No. 2 in D minor, BWV1004: Chaconne
Handel: Keyboard Suite, HWV 430 in E major 'The Harmonious Blacksmith'
Soler, A: Keyboard Sonata No. 21 in C sharp minor
Soler, A: Keyboard Sonata No. 84 in D major
Soler, A: Keyboard Sonata No. 86 in D major
Soler, A: Keyboard Sonata No. 15 in D minor
Soler, A: Keyboard Sonata No. 89 in F major
Soler, A: Keyboard Sonata No. 85 in F sharp minor
Soler, A: Keyboard Sonata No. 87 in G minor
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 22 in E flat major, K482
Wiener Symphoniker Uri Segal Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 19 in F major, K459
Wiener Symphoniker Uri Segal Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 13 in A major, D664
Schubert: Impromptu in A flat major, D899 No. 4
Schubert: Moments Musicaux, D780: No. 6 in A flat
Schubert: Piano Sonata No. 21 in B flat major, D960
Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5 (complete)
Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin Riccardo Chailly Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Beethoven: Fantasia for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra in C minor, Op. 80
RIAS Kammerchor, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin Riccardo Chailly Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Mompou: Impresiones Intimas
Mompou: Prelude No. 11 (a Alicia de Larrocha)
Mompou: Musica Callada, Book 4
Mompou: Cancion y danza No. 1
Mompou: Cancion y danza No. 2
Mompou: Cancion y danza No. 3
Mompou: Cancion i danza No. 14
Granados: Pieces based on Spanish folk-songs DLR V:2.1-7
Granados: Allegro de concierto, Op. 46
Granados: Escenas romanticas
Falla: Noches en los jardines de España
London Philharmonic Orchestra Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Albéniz: Rapsodia Española
London Philharmonic Orchestra Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Turina: Rapsodia sinfonica, Op. 66
London Philharmonic Orchestra Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos Alicia De Larrocha (piano)
Albéniz: Iberia, books 1-4
Albéniz: Navarra
Albéniz: Suite española No. 1, Op. 47
Esplá: Sonata Espanola, Op. 53
Rodrigo: Danzas (3) de España
Granados: Danzas españolas, Op. 37 Nos. 1-12
Turina: Danzas fantásticas, Op. 22
Turina: Preludios, Op. 80
Turina: Souvenirs de l’Ancienne Espagne, Op. 48
Turina: Partita, Op. 57
Granados: Escenas romanticas
Granados: Goyescas (piano suite)
Mompou: Impresiones Intimas
Beethoven: Für Elise (Bagatelle in A minor, WoO59)
Liszt: Liebestraum, S541 No. 3 (Nocturne in A flat major)
Rachmaninov: Prelude Op. 3 No. 2 in C sharp minor
Debussy: Clair de Lune (from Suite Bergamasque)
Schubert: Moments Musicaux, D780: No. 3 in F minor
Schubert: German Dance D365 No. 1
Couperin, F: Pièces de clavecin III: Ordre 13ème in B minor: Les rozeaux
Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 16 in C major, K545 'Facile'
Mozart: Rondo alla Turca from Piano Sonata No. 11, K331
Mendelssohn: Song without Words, Op. 67 No. 4 in C major 'Spinning Song' or 'Bee's Wedding'
Mendelssohn: Song without Words, Op. 62 No. 6 in A major 'Spring Song'
Tchaikovsky: The Seasons, Op. 37b: November (Troika)
Chopin: Waltz No. 7 in C sharp minor, Op. 64 No. 2
Chopin: Nocturne No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 9 No. 2
Chopin: Impromptu No. 4 in C sharp minor, Op. 66 'Fantaisie-Impromptu'
Chopin: Étude Op. 10 No. 3 in E major 'Tristesse'
Chopin: Polonaise No. 6 in A flat major, Op. 53 'Héroïque'
Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody, S244 No. 2 in C sharp minor
Liszt: Consolation, S. 172 No. 3 in D flat major
Liszt: Grande Étude de Paganini, S. 141 No. 3 'La Campanella'
Schubert: Impromptu in A flat major, D899 No. 4
Chopin: Nocturne No. 5 in F sharp major, Op. 15 No. 2
Chopin: Étude Op. 25 No. 9 in G flat major 'Butterfly'
Chopin: Waltz No. 4 in F major 'Grande Valse Brillante', Op. 34 No. 3
Mendelssohn: Rondo capriccioso in E major, Op. 14
Paderewski: Minuet in G major, Op. 14 No. 1
Fauré: Nocturne No. 3 in A flat major, Op. 33 No. 3
Debussy: Arabesques (2)
Weber: Invitation to the Dance, Op. 65
Falla: Ritual Fire Dance (from El amor brujo)

As history has informed us, if you wanted to encounter a ‘Who’s Who’ of New York City-based keyboard titans gathered in one place in the 1970s, you only had to purchase a ticket for an Alicia de Larrocha recital.

At her concerts you might encounter the likes of Arthur Rubinstein, Gina Bachauer, Van Cliburn, Claudio Arrau and Vladimir Horowitz. Such was the level of reverence by fellow pianists for her musicianship and sheer technical brilliance.

These recordings capture Larrocha at the height of her Decca recording career, with the 41 CDs covering much of her repertoire, in general. Also, treasures abound for some of these compositions were either unavailable or difficult to locate prior to this box-set; especially the Schubert Bb Sonata D960, the Bach F Minor and Haydn D Major concerti, the Bach Italian Concerto and French Suite #6 and Haydn Andante con Variazioni, a Schumann disc with the piano concerto (Dutoit), Fantasy opus 17 et al; Mozart sonatas k331 and 576, Beethoven Bagatelles opus 33 and Mendelssohn Variations Serieuses.

Indeed, the Schubert Bb was the greatest surprise, even though I had known much of her Mozart plus the Beethoven concerti with Riccardo Chailly. In the Schubert she is adept at the lyrical and tragic passages in the first two movements, but even more brilliant in the quicker final two movements.

Anything remotely dependent upon rhythmic acuity and the dance is grist for her mill. She also devours the finale of the Mozart 19th concerto and her native Spanish music here includes Mompou, Granados, Albeniz, Turina,de Falla and Padre Antonio Soler (a near contemporary of Scarlatti).

She is also excellent as a non-dreamy, but quite sensitive Chopinist in the 24 Preludes opus 28 and second piano concerto. And her sparkling Haydn piano concerto is a peer of those by Brendel and Haebler. I confess to being neutral at best concerning the Ravel left hand concerto and the Khachaturian concerto, but they also sound very good on piano-speaking.

Indeed, I think it's fair to say that many people who have only heard her in this repertoire might not be prepared for the grandeur and sweep of her virtuoso accounts of big Romantic pieces; such as the Liszt Sonata, and Schumann and Chopin, all of which are represented here.

The technique is big, the tone glorious, the musical interpretations impeccable, she has it all in spades. I am so happy to have her lovely account of the Chopin F Minor Concerto back in the catalog, as well as her colorful romp through the aforementioned Khachaturian Concerto. In short, Alicia de Larrocha is probably the finest interpreter of Spanish Piano music and this is a most invaluable collection of her works; Decca or otherwise.

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