Manuel de Falla: “El amor brujo por la Argentinita”

Orchestra conducted by Antal Dorati

Singer: La Argentinita



This music was written by Manuel de Falla in 1915 and is the most popular and internationally recognized work of this classical composer who first combined the melodies of flamenco and classical music. The Spanish poet Federico García Lorca considered de Falla as the perfect link between classical and popular music. Together in 1922 they organized the "Granada Contest of Cante Jondo".

This version of "El amor brujo" was recorded in 1944 with the Spanish singer and dancer "La Argentinita" during her last American tour, only a year before her death. "La Argentinita" made a complete recording of "El amor brujo" for the American record label Decca, which released the work on three ten-inch records.

Antal Dorati, best known for his recordings of the works of Bartok and Kodály and the complete 105 symphonies of Haydn, conducted the Ballet Theater Orchestra. "La Argentinita's" personal singing style, very different from the stiffness customary in the classical music of the time, gives this rendition of de Falla's most Gypsy work a unique expressiveness and charm.











La Argentinita was born in 1895 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her parents, Spaniards and theater professionals, were on a tour of Latin America when she was born and, from this fortuitous birth, La Argentinita received her artistic name.

She began her career in San Sebastian (Spain) and soon after went to Madrid, where success was not long in coming. Although she was primarily a dancer, she also received great recognition as a singer and actress.

This reissue recording includes a 47-page booklet with the libretto (and translations in English and French) and an essay on de Falla, " El amor brujo" and "La Argentinita" which was included with the original 1944 phonograph recording.

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Daniel Muñoz 1997
Translation: Marie Jost & D.M.