Manuel de Falla - Fantasia Baetica [video]

[jlh]

I made this video with a digital camera a week or so before my jury.  Because of a competition with other rep, this was just barely memorized at this recording.  I thought about making another one after my jury (in which I kicked major booty, btw), but the skin on my fingers was sore from all the glissandos and I decided this was ok as is.  I'm playing this for another graduate recital next April, so any comments you have about anything would be appreciated!  Thanks!

Part 1

Part 2

[rachfan]

Hi Josh,

Bravo!  Yours is a wonderful performance of the Fantasia Baetica, very beautiful playing indeed.  There might have been a couple of minor memory slips (which didn't effect continuity), but with a bit more time, that will take care of itself.  I think of this fantasia as being de Falla's most evocative, complex and difficult work--in fact, the pinnacle of his output for solo piano.  The fantasia is a very colorful piece, and you highlight them all--guitars, castanets, lyrical songs, rhythms of Spain, etc.  Throughout the piece you rise to all the tall technical finger-breaking challenges and execute them well.  Congratulations on adding the fantasia to your repertoire.  It's an important achievement!

[jlh]

Thanks rachfan for your thoughtful remarks!   

Any other comments from anyone?

[thracozaag]

Different from my conception, but I think you really make it work at this tempo--well done!

[jlh]

Different from my conception, but I think you really make it work at this tempo--well done!

Thanks!   

Different how?  I seem to recall your recording being a bit faster in places, is that what you mean?

[allchopin]

You have an excellent recording (both of them ).  I almost want to say it is both fluid and solid... what strange terms we use for performance.  Despite this, I feel the piece isn't worth the effort invested.