Review
Russian nationalists were adept at using folk materials and harmonies from their own country; it is perhaps not surprising then that they could work equally successfully with folk music from different lands. Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov may have entertained that thought when he sat down with a book of songs by the Spanish composer Jose Inzenga y Castellanos, with the object of reworking them into an orchestral showpiece. The resulting Capriccio espagnol retains the original melodies, rhythms, and harmonization of Inzenga y Castellanos' songs; however, it is ultimately distinguished by the Russian master's sensitive and brilliant orchestral colors. After its premiere at the Russian Musical Society in 1887, the Capriccio entered the standard repertoire in Russia almost overnight and quickly became just as popular around the world.
The first movement "Alborada" ("morning serenade") immediately explodes with festive strings, whooping winds and florid percussion. This emphatic full orchestral texture contrasts with several individual solos, including seductive, pseudo-Gypsy melodic elaboration from a solo violin which closes the movement. The next movement presents four variations on a lovely sighing theme presented on the horns; the first variations is handled by the strings, the second by the French and English horns, and the last two by the full orchestra. The orchestration here is particularly skillful, especially in the witty French horn/English horn duet, accompanied by murmuring strings that fade in and out of the texture with extreme delicacy.
Next, the Alborada makes a reappearance, in a different key and with different orchestration that highlights the cheerful virtuoso escapades of the solo violin. After a brass fanfare, the violin takes a lead role in the fourth movement ("Scene and Gypsy Song") with a fiendishly difficult cadenza. The flute and clarinet each take their turn, providing extravagant flourishes, after which the harp plays shimmering, gossamer scales. Finally, the Gypsy Song itself enters, and the movement concludes with the song clothed in orchestral garb reminiscent of the opening Alborada.
A sensual, fiery Fandago follows, its rhythm emphasized by cutting strings and emphatic cymbals and castanets. The fandango moves through various sections of the orchestra until it has nowhere else to go, at which time the Alborada returns to close the work in superlatively high spirits. The Capriccio espagnol is one of the most famous orchestral showpieces ever and deservedly so. ~ All Music Guide
Albums with Complete Performances of the Work
10 Years
100 All Time Classical Favorites (Box Set) 2000
100 All-Time Classical Favorites 2004
100 World's Best Loved Melodies 2004
125 All Time Classical Favorites 1994
50 Weekend Classics 2000
A Gala Evening In Madrid 1995
All Time Classical Favorites, Vol. 3 2000
An Evening With The Hollywood Bowl
Around the World
Arthur Fiedler & the Boston Pops
Barbirolli Conducts the Hallé Orchestra 1999
Beautiful Ballet 2002
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique/Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol 1994
Best Of Rimsky-Korsakov 1997
Bizet, Rimsky-Korsakov, Dukas and others
Bolero 1984
Bolero : Spanish Impressionen [European Import] 1999
Bolero: Spanish Favourites
Boléro and other Spanish Favourites 1997
Borodin: Polovtsian Dances; Rimsky-Korsakov: Russian Easter Overture; Le Coq d'Or Suite 1992
Cinema Classics 2006 2006
Classical Blockbusters 1993
Classical Favorites (Box Set) 2001
Classical Favorites (Box Set) 1998
Classical Favorites: The Most Beloved Classical Melodies (Box Set) 2001
Classical Journey (Box Set) 2001
Classical Journey (Box Set)
Classical Journey: Spain
Classics Collection: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov 2000
Complete Early Berlin Philharmonic Recordings, 1957-1962 [Box Set]
Constantin Silvestri: The Collection, Vol. 1 2001
Dances and Marches from the Hollywood Bowl 2001
Debussy: Images; Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnole; Borodin: Prince Igor 1998
Decca Recordings 1964-1975, Vol. 2 [Box Set]
Domingo at the Philharmonic 1989
España 1999
España
España 1995
España 2006
España, de dentro a fuera 2005
Eternal Russia 1993
Evening In Granada 1993
Famous Russian Music
Fascinating Orchestral Pieces
Festival of Classics, Vol.6 1993
Fireworks 1990
Gallery of Classical Music: Rimsky-Korsakov & Musorgsky 2000
Great Mediterranean Classics 1998
Great Music Classics (Box Set) 2001
Great Music Classics (Box Set) 2001
Great Music Classics (Box Set) 1999
Great Music Classics (Collectors Edition) (Box Set) 2002
Greatest Russian Composers (Box Set) 1998
Greatest Russian Composers, Vol. 3 1998
Hermann Scherchen: Les enregistrements 2001
Iberia: Music of Rimsky-Korsakov/Debussy/Turina 1981
Igor Stravinsky: L'Histoire du Soldat; Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol 1985
In Classical Mood: Spanish Rhapsody 1998
In Concert with the University of Illinois Symphonic Band: The Begian Years, Vol. 18
Lake Highlands in the Meyerson, 1997-1998
Legendary Masterworks Recordings: Dresdner Philharmonie 2008
Mariss Jansons Conducts Mussorgsky & Rimsky-Korsakov 2002
Mussorgsky & Rimsky Korsakov 1996
Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov
Mussorgsky/Ravel: Pictures at an Exhibition; Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio espagnole; Tchaikovsky: Capriccio italien 1993
Mussorgsky: Pictures At An Exhibition; Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol 2001
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; A Night on the Bare Mountain; Borodin: In the Steppes of Central Asia 2002
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade/Capriccio Espagnol 1993
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Symphony Nos. 1 & 2/Capriccio Espagnol 1993
Orchestral Spectacular 1992
Orchestral Spectacular 1991
Orchestral Spectacular 1995
Orchestral Works of Mussorgsky & Rimsky-Korsakov 2006
Over 50 Most Treasured Melodies
Panorama: Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov 2000
Panorama: Viva España 2000
Passion (Box Set) 2003
Passion, Vol. 11: Rimsky-Korsakov - Schéhérazade, Capriccio Espagnol 2003
Pierre Monteux Conducts Rimsky-Korsakov, Borodin, Stravinsky 2008
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2; Rimsky-Korsakov: Russian Easter Overture; Etc. 1997
Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2 [Hybrid SACD] 2008
Rapsodie Espagnole
Rimski-Korsakov: Schéhérazade; Capriccio espagnol 2004
Rimsky-Korsakov For Dummies
Rimsky-Korsakov Greatest Hits 2005
Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky: Orchestral Works 1994
Rimsky-Korsakov, Ravel & Stravinsky: Orchestral Works
Rimsky-Korsakov: 3 Symphonies; Capriccio espagnol; Russian Easter Overture
Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol Op34; Coq D'or 1998
Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol Op34; Russian Easter Festival Overture Op36
Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol Op34; Russian Easter Festival Overture Op36 1993
Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol Op34; Russian Easter Festival Overture Op36 2000
Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol; Russian Easter Festival; Sadko; May Night 2005
Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio espagnol; Lalo: Symphonie espagnole; Korssakoff: Zigeunerweisen 2000
Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio espagnol; Piano Concerto; Sadko 2004
Rimsky-Korsakov: Great Orchestral Works 1994
Rimsky-Korsakov: Greatest Hits 1995
Rimsky-Korsakov: Orchestral Favorites
Rimsky-Korsakov: Orchestral Works including Sheherazade 2007
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade for orchestra Op35; Capriccio Espagnol Op34
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade for orchestra Op35; Capriccio Espagnol Op34
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, Opus 35; Capriccio Espagnol; Flight of the Bumblebee
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade/Capriccio Espagnol 1999
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio Espagnol 1998
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio Espagnol 2001
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio Espagnol 1990
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio Espagnol 1984
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio Espagnol; Flight of the Bumblebee 1999
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio Espagnol; Russian Easter Overture
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio espagnol 1995
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio espagnol 2005
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio espagnol; Flight of the Bumble Bee 2003
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherezade; Symphonic Suite; Capriccio Espagnol 1998
Rimsky-Korsakov: Sheherazade; Capriccio Espagnol 2002
Rimsky-Korsakov: Sheherazade; Capriccio espagnol
Rimsky-Korsakov: Sherherazade; Russian Easter Overture; Capriccio espagnol 1991
Rimsky-Korsakov: Suite from "Le Coq d'Or"; Borodin: Polovtsian Dances from "Prince Igor" [Hybrid SACD] 2004
Rimsky-Korsakov: Symphonies Nos. 1-3; Piano Concerto; Capriccio Espagnol; Russian Easter Overture; Sadko 1996
Russian Capriccio 2005
Russian Favorites
Russian Favorites
Russian Nights 2006
Russian Nights [Hybrid SACD] 2007
Russian Orchestral Music 1994
Russian Orchestral Showpieces 2001
Russian Orchestral Works
Russian Showpieces
Russian Spectacular 2000
Russian Spectacular 2007
Russische Orchesterwerke 2007
Sibelius: Symphony No. 1; Tchaikovsky: Theme & Variations; Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol 2003
Silvestri: The Collection (Box Set) 2001
Spanish Festival 1991
Spanish Fiesta! 2006
Spanish Spectacular
Spanish Steel 2008
Sunday Evenings with Pierre Monteux [Box Set]
Sunday Evenings with Pierre Monteux [Box Set] 1997
Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Borodin and others
Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture; Marche Slave
Tchaikovsky: Capriccio Italien Op45; Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol Op34 1999
Tchaikovsky: Capriccio Italien; Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol 1981
Tchaikovsky: Capriccio Italien; Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol 2003
Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker Op71a; Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol Op34
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No5, Op64; Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol Op34 2000
Tender Moments At The Symphony 1996
The Anthology of Russian Symphonic Music: Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov 2008
The Beautiful World of Classical Music, Vol. 6-10 (Box Set)
The Best of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov 1994
The Best of Rimsky-Korsakov 2007
The Cala Series: Orchestral Masterworks (Box Set) 1995
The Cala Series: Orchestral Masterworks, Vol. 2 1987
The Complete Decca Reordings of Ataúlfo Argenta, 1953-1957 [Box Set] 2006
The Medinah Sessions 2001
The Rimsky-Korsakov Collection, Vol. 2 1993
The Russians 1993
The World's Most Treasured Melodies, Vol. I
Vassily Sinaisky Conducts Rimsky-Korsakov 2007
Wagner, Bizet, Rimsky-Korsakov and others 1988
Albums with Excerpt Performances of the Work
