Three Cornered Hat: Complete Ballet

Manuel de Falla was one of Spain's most important musicians of the first half of the 20th century. His image even appeared on Spain's 1970 100-pesetas banknote. This timeless gem is performed by L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande with the solo singing by the young mezzo-soprano Teresa Berganza and conducted by Ernest Ansermet. This is a performance to be known as one of the greatest. Powerful rolls of thunder, the click of castanets, lively rhythms and rich sonority conjure up a picture of fiery Spanish temperament so tangibly that any comment on the recording quality appears almost superfluous. In a nutshell: this record is, quite simply, incredibly good.