ABILITY RATING ADVANCED
Spanish piano repertoire has often been perceived as the exclusive domain of musicians born in the Iberian Peninsula, with interpreters such as Alicia de Larrocha and Rafael Orozco promoting Granados, Albéniz and the likes by regularly featuring them in their programmes. However, it was none other than the celebrated Polish pianist Arthur Rubinstein who was the great champion of Manuel de Falla’s own piano transcription of the (Ritual Fire Dance) from his ballet (Love, the Magician). For years Rubinstein would include it as one of his encore pieces, and despite the fabulous amount of repertoire that he kept under his fingers, this dance used to be a favourite vehicle for ending a recital. It is easy to see why, as the combination of seductive melodies, powerful rhythmic ideas, great opportunities for colour and sound effects, and a thrilling final coda would often result in an outstanding ovation. Falla was very grateful to Rubinstein and dedicated his greatest solo piano composition to him, perhaps hoping that this too
