Espana (CD review)

Rimsky-Korsakov:  Capriccio Espagnol; Granados:  Andaluza, Danza Espanola No. 5; Chabrier:  Espana; Moszkowski:  Five Spanish Dances.  Ataulfo Argenta, London Symphony Orchestra.  LIM XR24 016.

Originally recorded by Decca in 1956, this classic album, "Espana," with conductor Ataulfo Argenta has the distinction of being one of the best collections of Spanish-inflected music ever produced.  Yet, of the four composers represented, only one is actually Spanish.  No matter.  You don't have to be American to enjoy a hot dog.  The Russian, German, and French composers do just as well by the music as the Spaniard.

Things begin with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio Espagnol, a lively, colorful piece that has seen hundreds of interpretations but none quite so affecting as this one.  On a rival XRCD from JVC, Kiril Kondrashin directs a more flamboyant, more purely exciting account, but Argenta imbues the music with an enjoyably relaxed tone.  Not that the big, dramatic moments don't come to the fore under Argenta; they do.  But he captures the lighter, more reflective interludes as well.  Following the Capriccio is Enrique Granados's brief Andaluza, Danza Espanola No. 5, which comes almost as a lullaby after Rimsky-Korsakov's more-explosive, more-ornate work.  Then there is probably the most-famous piece of Spanish music ever written, Espana, by the Frenchman Emmanuel Chabrier.  No complaints here; Argenta's reading is one of the two or three best, most evocative available, and, ironically, the best recorded.  Finally, there are Five Spanish Dances by Moritz Moszkowski, all of them quite lovingly executed by Argenta.

This particular album has been a showpiece for hi-fi systems since the earliest days of stereo, and the last time I recommended it (about a dozen years ago in the $ensible Sound magazine), it had been remastered on a gold disc by Classic Compact Discs.  It sounded very, very good, and now LIM (Lasting Impression Music, the Decca remastering arm of producer Winston Ma's First Impression Music) have given it the ultimate treatment in XRCD 24-bit processing.  In a direct comparison of the XRCD with the gold disc, I found small but noticeable improvements in the XRCD's handling of mid-to-upper bass, resulting in a warmer, smoother, and, most importantly, fuller sound.  The gold disc seemed a tad lean to me by comparison, and a touch edgier.  Not that the gold presentation isn't still a great-sounding disc; it's just that the XRCD appears to my ears to be slightly richer and more realistic.  I suppose one could argue about which disc produces the widest dynamic range and the strongest impact, but these are areas too close for me call.

In any case, the Classic Compact gold disc is no longer available, so the point is moot unless you already own it.  If you like this music and you like this album, you can't beat the LIM XRCD remastering of it.  Just be sure you have the deep pockets to pay for it, because it will cost you as much as any gold disc ever would.

JJP