Barbara Howitt- soprano, London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Enrique Jorda
Everest SDBR 3057 (recorded November 1959; original LP issue April 1960. Digital remastered 2008)
(digital download - flacs, booklet and cover scans)
Recording venue: Walthamstow Assembly Hall, London
Recording engineers: Bert Whyte & Aaron Nathanson; Producer: Bert Whyte
Another Everest reissue, this time in the characteristically stingy series from Countdown Media. Okay, I know this is the same as the original Everest LP issue - and at least the sound quality is at Everest's finest, even in red-book standard as here.
From an artistic and sound point of view, this is one of Everest's most successful releases. Enrique Jorda (1911 - 1996) was noted in his time as a leading exponent of Spanish repertoire and he conducted widely all round Europe. More lately he seems to be almost totally forgotten. However, this recording is a great favourite. The opening is electrifying with the orchestra's and soprano's vocals. Jorda seems to get everything just right. The performance is exciting yet subtle throughout and I've never heard a performance or recording that I prefer.
I note that the original Everest LP has been criticised for poor mastering but I purchased the UK World Record Club LP issue in the early 1960s and that was just fine. It also had a short coupling of Villa-Lobos'Little Train of the Caipira conducted by Eugene Goossens and that will appear in a later post here on MIMIC.
Download from MEGA.