Albéniz: Iberia

Isaac Albéniz remains one of the great figures of Spanish music. A child prodigy on the piano, he developed a unique musical language through his travels and encounters, drawing on Hispanic traditions whilst remaining open to French influences, notably those of Debussy, Fauré and Dukas.

Composed between 1905 and 1908, Iberia, his masterpiece and musical legacy, comprises twelve pieces inspired chiefly by Andalusia. Far from merely reproducing Spanish folklore, Albéniz transcends its rhythms, dances and colours to create a work of exceptional harmonic and rhythmic richness, combining virtuosity, sensuality, melancholy and exuberance. A true landmark of the piano repertoire, Iberia bears witness to the fruitful encounter between Romanticism, Impressionism and modernity.

Passionate about this masterpiece, pianist Burkard Spinnler hopes to shed new light on it with this complete recording, which pays close attention to the composer's intentions and the polyphonic richness of his writing. Resulting of in-depth study of the original scores, this recording is followed by Joaquín Turina's Sacro-monte, in homage to Albéniz's legacy.