Volume 4 of the continuing Naxos survey of the piano music of Enrique Granados includes three world premiere recordings. The performer is the American pianist Douglas Riva, who now enjoys a considerable reputation for his interpretations of Spanish music and has a particularly strong affinity with the works of Granados. Fine as he undoubtedly is, I doubt that many listeners will be so entranced by these performances as they would by the uniquely individual realizations of Alicia de Larrocha in her classic recordings for RCA Victor and Decca. In addition, most of us will require only the main thread of Granados’ keyboard output: Goyescas and the 12 Spanish dances Op. 37 should suffice. Naxos clearly thinks otherwise, and it’s nevertheless useful to have the complete piano works available at budget price.
Comparing respective accounts of the seven “Poetic Waltzes”, it is de Larrocha who gives the more alluring and idiomatic reading. Natural flow combined with a warmth and affection for the music makes her every rubato and nuance seem completely uncontrived. Riva takes a more robust view of the music, but nowhere does he demonstrate comparable intuitive flair, and numbers three and seven of the waltzes sound mannered. But you’ll be treated to pleasing performances of Apparitions (Romantic Waltzes), and there’s rich humour in Riva’s accounts of the ten Stories of Youth. The Apparitions find their way onto disc for the first time here, as do the five Scenes from Childhood. The other premiere recording is Honey from Alcarria: Jota. Decent enough piano playing, but never in de Larrocha’s league, and a nicely engineered recording.
