Iberia is music. From the songs of medieval troubadours and Renaissance polyphony, to instruments like the bandurria, tambourine, castanets, and tabor pipes (one-handed flutes), a unique sound was created. Three thousand miles of coastline and the Pyrenees Mountains contained it. And now, Spain's greatest pianist has died, Alicia de Larrocha (1923-2009).
Born in Barcelona to a family of pianists, Alicia demanded to play the piano when she was three and gave her first public concert at age five at the Barcelona World's Fair. 
In an obituary published in the New York Times, it was reported that the child Alicia was so determined to play that one time when her aunt locked the piano, she banged her head on the floor until her aunt relented. She grew to only four feet nine inches tall, yet her reach on the keyboard (major tenths) was extraordinary.
When de Larrocha began including music from her native Catalonia in her concerts and recordings, such as Iberia (1909) by Isaac Albeniz and Goyescas (1911) by Enrique Granados or the delicate piano pieces of expatriate Federico Mompou, some critics dismissed them as examples of local color, with their tone paintings of Spanish towns and evocations of Goya's paintings. 
But Iberia, admired by Claude Debussy, and Goyescas are mountain peaks of the piano repertoire, immensely difficult to play. The ornamentation in Goyescas require great dexterity but, ideally, as de Larrocha played them, sound almost improvised.
When I look at these paintings, I hear her playing. Rest in peace.
Images:
When I look at these paintings, I hear her playing. Rest in peace.
Images:
1. Santiago Rusinol y Prats - The Valley of the Naranjos, 1911, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Madrid.
2. Pablo Picasso - Landscape in Catalonia, 1906, Musee Picasso, Paris.
3. Mario Fortuny y Marsal - The Burro on the Patio, 1
872, Priavte Collection - Christes.
872, Priavte Collection - Christes.4. Robert-Hubert Crommelynck - Woman in the Country Near Avila, 1934, Pompidou Center, Paris.
5. Marie Louis Sue - The Fountain at Lindajara, undated, between 1875-1968, Museum of Modern Art, Troyes, France.
6. Joaquin Sorolla y Basteido - The Sorollas' Patio, 1917, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Madrid.
7. George Daniel de Monfried - Angoustrine Church In Catalonia, 1887, Musee D'Orsay, Paris.
2 comments:
I'm rediscovering her handiwork these days. How did I ever lose track?
Here in New York, de Larrocha performed often at the Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center. Even though I'm several inches taller than she was, I could never manage a major tenth on the piano. I read that she had a very long reach between thumb and forefinger. But, for greatness, there is no explanation.
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