España, Rhapsody
Emmanuel Chabrier (1841-94)
Though he wrote a great deal of music, including several operas, and had a strong influence on Debussy and Ravel, among others, most people only know a single work by Chabrier--this vivid, sun-drenched evocation of Spain composed in 1883 after the composer and his wife took a memorable trip to Iberia, where he heard flamenco for the first time. He wrote to his publisher of the dancing, the guitars, the dazzling smiles of the ladies, and the "endless variety of rhythms" superimposed on a basic 3/4 pattern. Once back in France, Chabrier recaptured these memories in music that immediately carries us all to Seville and sets us dancing.