This is the best Spanish music CD I've ever heard. All three pieces are top choices - probably the best available in the market. The Concierto with Carlos Bonell giving an excellent performance and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra under Charles Dutoit providing excellent support. The Amor is of the same magnitude if not better, you can fell the fire burning. The Nights come from a veteran and a great scholar of Spanish music, Alicia de Larrocha and Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos. This is the only piece that I feel there is a rival - Alicia de Larrocha under Ernest Ansermet (also for Decca). A 10 star CD.

Esta es una muy interesante recompilacion de los grandes clasicos de la musica española. Lo mejor del disco son las 'Noches en los jardines de España' extraordinarias dirigidas por Fruckbeck de Burgos, y con el lujazo de Alicia de Larrocha como solista. Batante bien el 'Concierto de Aranjuez', en version de Carlos Bonell dirigido por Charles Dutoit. Menos interesante 'El Amor Brujo' que cierra el disco, no tanto por las masas orquestales (que rinden a gran nivel) si no por la eleccion de la solista, una Huguette Tourengau (a la que muchos recordaran como la eterna secundaria en las grabaciones de la Sutherland) que aunque no canta mal es poco adecuada al estilo de esta pieza tan española. Su diccion, es solo regular.
En resumidas cuentas, un disco con una sobresaliente version de 'Noches en los jardines de España', un notable 'Concierto de Aranjuez' y una buena (en lo orquestal, que no en lo vocal) version del 'Amor Brujo'. A nivel general bastante recomendable.

First of all let me say that I am not a classical music listener. However this does not exclude me from knowing or appreciating good music. This happens to be one of my all time favorite CD's and it just happens to fall into the classical music category. I'm a sucker for "Concierto de Aranjuez", whenever I see this on a CD I immediately want to own it. One of the best songs ever written, a masterpiece written by Joaquin Rodrigo, the song is pure Spanish magic. The other song that I love is "Fantasia para un gentilhombre", another song penned by Rodrigo, it is just beautiful and evokes the essence of the elegant Spanish tradition. Once you've heard these songs you will be hooked and the song will play in your head long after it is not playing. Both of these songs have been performed by various artists but this is one of the best performances captured in Montreal in 1980-81. Carlos Bonnel is a maestro on guitar and Charles Dutoit is masterful conducting the Orchestre Symphonique De Montreal. This is one of those "classic" performances that sounds good no matter the time period it was recorded in. Recommended in the "Penguin Guide to CD's" you can't go wrong here, for novices and afficionados alike.

This is a great compilation of three early 1980s cds from London. First and foremost, the Rodrigo Concierto is the best you are likely to hear. The tempos are beautifully judged and the recording is a great example of how far ahead of most labels London was in its engineering in the early days of digital. El Amor Brujo was taken from another great Dutoit CD from the early '80s and there is not enough space to praise it here, except to say that it is every bit the equal of the Rodrigo recording. Nights in the Gardens of Spain comes from a great 1983 London CD with deLarrocha at her finest. Wonderful performances and recordings all-around!