There isn’t a pressing need for a new recording of Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole, even in such an elegant performance as this. Mark Kaplan is an intelligent virtuoso who spins long phrases and uses rubato judiciously, and he never overdoes the music’s rather affected Spanish accent, concentrating instead on varying his tone color. Note, for example, how he intensifies his vibrato in the fourth movement (Andante) to reflect the music’s greater lyrical weight. The Orquesta Simfonica de Barcelona plays with élan for Lawrence Foster, though the tubby recording, with the woodwinds overly recessed, provides precious little sparkle.
What makes this recording worthwhile is the coupling: an attractive and highly virtuosic concerto by the little-known Spanish violinist/composer Juan Manén (1883-1971). Full of “circuitous harmonic twists”, as Kaplan puts it in his exceptionally well-written and informative notes, the Concierto espagnol often brings Strauss to mind, and occasionally Ravel. Perhaps it would be pressing the point to say that this is Spain’s answer to the Korngold Concerto–it’s not as consistently tuneful, for one thing–but those who enjoy such opulent, late-romantic fare are likely to also delight in Manén’s work. Setting aside the theory that familiarity breeds contempt, I must admit that on first acquaintance, I found the Manén piece considerably more engaging than Lalo’s warhorse. And Kaplan’s performance vividly communicates the joy of discovery.
