"Ernesto Lecuona wrote hundreds of songs, and yet only a handful are known today, and most people would not even
know that the composer is Lecuona. He was very much in fashion
during the Carmen Miranda movie days, and his band, the Lecuona Cuban Boys was legendary. Placido Domingo's old LP (also released a few years ago on CD) was splendid, but the orchestral arrangements seemed too lush and overstated. Lecuona's simple harmonies and lovely melodies are best suited in a more intimate frame, such as this marvelous new recording by Carole Farley and pianist John Constable. They truly bring out the beauty in these songs. Each one is a gem. Great artistry and professionalism. Bravo, and more please. And bravo to the enterprising Swedish label BIS for continuing their very successful Lecuona series.
Marvin L. Shafer
Princeton, N.J."
LECUONA: NEW GREAT RECORDING
J.P. | London, England | 10/17/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the first Lecuona I have ever heard, and I am now a convert! I shall try to get as many Lecuona CD's as I can find,
not only the vocal albums, but the piano recordings, of which there seem to be many. I had not heard of this composer before,
so the love songs album by Carole Farley was a complete revelation. I speak and teach Spanish, so I was able to enjoy the poems as well. Many of these poems are actually banal and repetitious, (with the great exception of the last one, which
is remarkable). But then, most romantic ballads of the period
are similar in scope. The music is very beautiful. The performances, by both artists, are oustanding. Ms. Farley posseses a very beautiful, warm tone, which lends itself beautifully to these songs. The sound of the CD is first-class,
a demonstration record.
June Spencer
New York, NY"
GREAT LECUONA RECORDING BY CAROLE FARLEY & JOHN CONSTABLE
G.F. | Miami, Florida | 10/17/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I probably have one of the largest Lecuona CD collections, including most of the original releases by the Lecuona Cuban Boys, and most of Lecuona solo recordings. Therefore, it is
with this experience, and all the research I have made -over
a lifetime- in the composer's work, that I feel confident
in declaring the new release by Carole Farley and John
Constable an outstanding achievement in every sense. First
of all, it is a joy to hear. Ms. Farley's voice never sounded
better. I have a number of her recordings: Beethoven 9th Symphony with the RPO (on Deutsche Grammophone); two CD's pf Prokofiev's songs (in Russian), one for Chandos and on on ASV;
a marvelous CD of Grieg songs with the Philharmonia Orchestra on Dinemec; Richard Strauss opera arias on Chandos; Tchaikovsky opera arias, also on Chandos; an unforgettable rendition of Ned Rorem's songs with the composer at the piano (Naxos), and a VHS
on DECCA, the opera "La Voix Humaine" by Cocteau/Poulenc, coupled with Menotti's "The Telephone" (I have read it will soon be re-released on DVD; wonderful news). This versatily is incredible. I have heard her Metropolitan Opera Lulu, as well as her Lady Macbeth (Shostakovich), also at the MET, but unfortunately, as far as I know, she has never recorded these works. The Lecuona songs album is remarkable for so many reasons. John Constable, known for his recordings of Mozart operas (in which he plays the harpsichord), and many barroque works, is also known as a specialist in contemporary and avant-garde music. I have several of his recordings with the London Symphonetta, including several works by Elliot Carter. In the Poulenc CD he also shows, like Carole Farley, great musicality, versatility, and complete understanding of the idiom. Both are first-rate musicians, obviously, and judging from the results of this collaboration, they both seem to love Lecuona's beautiful songs. This CD should truly put this music on the map, as the critics of the main music magazines have been saying.
Gonzalo Fernandez
Miami, FL"
Ravishingly Beautiful new Recording of Lecuona Songs
J. Mendez | Orlando, FL | 09/15/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After some difficulty locating this new release, I finally was able to hear it and find out first-hand what all the fuss and buzz was about. This CD is a real winner. I love the order of
the songs, obviously very carefully worked out. These are very
greast artists at work. Carole Farley is superb. I was moved to
tears haring once again many songs I have not heard since childhood, rendered with such warmth and sense of poetry. I see that Carole Farley has also recorded songs by Grieg and Delius, and I am going to try to get these as soon as possible. Also her
Kurt Weill recordings.
John Constable is one of the top piano partners of the day, and in the Lecuona Love Songs CD he does it again. He understands the idiom to perfection and provides just the right amount of humor and improvisation.
My only regret is that the CD only contains 25 songs, and does not include some of Lecuona's best known melodies. We must look forward to a second volume, with more Lecuona discoveries, and hopefully some of his best-known tunes included.
The booklet is very helpful, and the translations of the songs first-class. As Gramophone magazine (September) indicated, this is indeed "a gem of a disc".
J. Mendez, Orlando, FL"
BRAVO CAROLE FARLEY, JOHN CONSTABLE & BIS RECORDS
M.W. | Seattle, Washington | 09/11/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It has to be quite difficult for an opera singer with the size of voice to be heard in large theaters to be able to down-size it and sing simple ballads. Several opera singers have attempted it, and in most cases they fail, because they sound operatic. Carole Farley has obtained, in this new recording, the perfect sound for these beautiful Lecuona melodies. Only in the final song, which is almost operatic, she lets herself go
with the full extent of her powerful voice. And what an effect it makes!.
Surely one of the most recorded singers today (I have her Prokofiev songs, a couple of CD's of French songs, and even a couple of Kurt Weill recordings, and a CD of songs by Ned Rorem), this versatile artist is able to communicate warmth and spirit. This is a recording to treasure. John Constable, known as a specialist in avant-garde music and barroque, shows here that he can play anything, in any style.