Alicia de Larrocha, that incomparable interpreter of the Spanish repertoire, is here revisiting many of her favourite musical haunts. And if some of her former edge and fire, her tonal and stylistic luxuriance are now replaced by more 'contained' and reflective qualities, her warmth and affection remain undimmed. Her rubato, while less lavishly deployed than before, is potent and alluring, and each and every dance is played with rare naturalness and authority. But if a touch of sobriety occasionally blunts the fullest impact of these fascinating, most aristocratic idealisations of local Spanish life and colour, the actual playing is never less than masterly. The Valses poéticos are offered as an engaging encore.
The recordings have much less range and reverberance than her previous ones on Decca; however, all lovers of this repertoire will want to add this to their collection.