This is the first-ever recording of La Vida Breve and it is valuable for the superb singing of Victoria de los Angeles at the beginning of her illustrious career. Recorded in Barcelona in 1954 with a cast of Spanish singers who are outstanding. The conductor, Ernesto Halffter, was a pupil of Falla and is considered a unique authority on the composer’s music.
Victoria de los Angeles – Soprano
Orquesta Sinfonica de la Opera de Barcelona
Capilla Clasica Polifonica
Ernesto Halffter – Conductor
Salud comes in from the street into her grandmother’s house looking unhappy. Her grandmother tries to reassure her – of course Paco will come. But, Salud’s uncle knows that Paco is going to marry another girl. Paco is only playing with Salud.
Her grief spills over in a terrible lament, and she longs for death.
This recording was made in Barcelona in 1954 with a cast of Spanish singers, whose prescence helps give this recording its dramatic intensity and textural authenticity. Victoria de los Angeles sings with grace, integrity, honesty and love for the music.
On This Recording
- La vida breve: Act I Tableau I, Scene 1: Ah! Ah! Ande le tarea (Workers of the forge, A voice from the forge, Grandmother, Distant voices, Voice of a vendor, Voice of a lady vendor)
- La vida breve: Act I Tableau I, Scene 1: Mi querer es como el hierro (A voice in the distance, Workers of the forge, Grandmother)
- La vida breve: Act I Tableau I, Scene 1: Ramicos de claveles! (A voice in the distance, Voice of a vendor, Voice of a lady vendor, Grandmother, Workers of the forge)
- La vida breve: Act I Tableau I, Scene 2: Abuela, ino viene! (Salud, Grandmother)
- La vida breve: Act I Tableau I, Scene 2: Solo tengo dos carinos (Salud, Grandmother)
- La vida breve: Act I Tableau I, Scene 3: Ah! Ah! Ande la tarea (Workers of the forge, Salud, A voice from the forge)
- La vida breve: Act I Tableau I, Scene 3: Vivan los que rien! (Salud)
- La vida breve: Act I Tableau I, Scene 3: Malhaya el hombre, malhaya (A voice in the distance, Workers of the forge, Salud)
- La vida breve: Act I Tableau I, Scene 4: Salud! Que? Que pasa? (Grandmother, Salud)
- La vida breve: Act I Tableau I, Scene 5: Paco! Paco! Mi Salud! (Salud, Paco)
- La vida breve: Act I Tableau I, Scene 5: Dime, Paco no es verdad? (Salud, Paco)
- La vida breve: Act I Tableau I, Scene 6: Paco! Mi chavala! (Salud, Paco, Grandmother, Workers of the forge, Uncle Sarvaor, A voice from the forge, A voice in the distance)
- La vida breve: Act I Tableau I, Scene 6: Ande vas? (Grandmother, Uncle Sarvaor, Salud, Paco)
- La vida breve: Act I Tableau I, Scene 6: Malhaya la jembra pobre (A voice from the forge, Paco, Salud, A voice in the distance)
- La vida breve: Act I Tableau II, Scene 7: Intermezzo
- La vida breve: Act II Tableau I, Scene 1: Ole! Ay! Yo canto por soleares! (Guests, Singer)
- La vida breve: Act II Tableau I, Scene 1: Danza
- La vida breve: Act II Tableau I, Scene 2: Alli esta! (Salud, Singer, Guests)
- La vida breve: Act II Tableau I, Scene 2: Ay que mundo y ay que cosas! (Singer, Guests, Salud)
- La vida breve: Act II Tableau I, Scene 3: No te dije? (Uncle Sarvaor, Grandmother, Salud, Guests, Carmela, Paco)
- La vida breve: Act II Tableau I, Scene 3: Malhaya la jembra pobre! (Salud, Grandmother, Uncle Salvaor, Carmela, Paco, Manuel)
- La vida breve: Act II Tableau I, Scene 3: Intermezzo
- La vida breve: Act II Tableau II, Scene 4: Danza
- La vida breve: Act II Tableau II, Scene 4: Carmela mia! (Paco, Carmela, Manuel, Uncle Salvaor)
- La vida breve: Act II Tableau II, Scene 4: Last scene: Que gracia! (Manuel, Guests, Uncle Sarvaor, Paco, Carmela, Salud, Grandmother)
- La vida breve: Act II Tableau II, Scene 4: No! No! No! Yo no vengo a cantar! (Salud, Paco, Manuel, Uncle Sarvaor, Grandmother, Guests)
