Manuel de Falla - El corregidor y la molinera; El sombrero de tres picos (José María Moreno Valiente)

Information

Composer: Manuel de Falla

• El corregidor y la molinera
• El sombrero de tres picos

Carol García, mezzo-soprano

Serena Pérez, mezzo-soprano

Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga

José María Moreno Valiente, conductor

Date: 2023

Label: IBS

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Description

A unique album in which two of most important Falla’s works come together. The original El Corregidor y la Molinera and its later version El Sombrero de tres picos. No other album contains these two works together. It was Diaghilev who persuaded Falla of the opportunity involved in making a great ballet from the material of El Corregidor y la Molinera, not being satisfied with that farce which, moreover, delighted the public of his time. However, it should be emphasised, that the pantomime involved a formula particularly favoured by Falla as it was based on a silent performance, both in terms of dialogue and incident. Today we can return to “El corregidor y la molinera” not as a mere attempt at “El sombrero de tres picos”, but, from our own perspective, as a more faithful testimony to Falla’s proverbial wish, still outside the spectacular dimension of Massine and Diaghilev.

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Review

Manuel de Falla composed his farsa mímica (pantomime) El corregidor y la molinera in 1916 and 1917 on a play by Martínez Sierra based on the novel by Pedro Antonio de Alarcón.

A miller, somewhat physically stunted, lives in his mill with his pretty wife. A nobleman, the corregidor, falls in love with the miller’s wife and uses a ruse to lure her husband away at night to satisfy his sinful desires. The trap of the mistress and the revenge of the aggrieved husband, who seeks to avenge his wrongs by in turn harming the offender, form the theme of the pantomime.

Manuel de Falla wrote a colorful music for it, which is by no means free of sensuality, as one might conclude from some recordings. José María Moreno Valiente sticks to the plot, and so he succeeds in a dazzling and extremely sensitive, at times even mischievous interpretation. He does not go for brilliance, but for what I think is a well-timed blend of heavy-bloodedness, warm colors and elegance – thus setting de Falla apart from the French Ravel and Debussy.

In the comically satirical Sombrero de Tres Picos, too, Valiente is not only concerned with rhythm, but with moods, with colors, with Spanish scents, with which he treats us abundantly.

— Remy Franck

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Manuel de Falla (23 November 1876 – 14 November 1946) was a leading Spanish composer of the early 20th century. After relocating to Paris in 1907, he came under the influence of Debussy, Dukas and Ravel. Upon his return to Madrid in 1914, he produced major works including El amor brujo, El sombrero de tres picos, and Noches en los jardines de España, solidifying his international reputation. In later years in Granada, he composed El retablo de Maese Pedro and a Harpsichord Concerto, reflecting his shift toward a neoclassical style. Falla spent his final years in Mallorca and subsequently in Argentina.

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José María Moreno Valiente is a Spanish conductor from Palma de Mallorca. He received initial studies of conducting in Spain, and advanced studies at the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in St. Petersburg. He has been Music and Artistic Director of the Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga since 2020–21 Season. A dynamic and in-demand guest conductor, he has led major orchestras across Europe and the Americas and works regularly in opera, zarzuela, ballet, ballets and concerts. He also directs the Sinfónica de Quintana Roo (Mexico) and serves as Principal Guest Conductor in Portugal and at Festival MúsicaMallorca.

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