Rhapsodie Espagnole (Spanish Rhapsody)

“..the most extraordinary thing about Liszt is his wonderful variety of expression and play of feature. One moment his face will look dreamy, shadowy, tragic. The next he will be insinuating, amiable, ironical, sardonic; but always the same captivating grace of manner. He is a perfect study.”

— Amy Fay

Liszt’s Spanish Rhapsody requires a mastery of technical acumen and rapport with the piano. It is a brilliant interplay between drama, dance, and tender lyrical reflection. The piece was inspired by a trip to Spain, Portugal, and Gibraltar in 1844-1845 and written during an arduous time for the composer. During his travels “he met local musicians and absorbed many Spanish musical folk idioms” (Watson). The piece rejoiced and received popularity in the hands of the brilliant pianist Hans von Bülow, elevating him as the most revered interpreter of the work.

The rhapsody opens with a brilliant cadenza, highlighted by stark drama, with deep tremolo rumblings in the bass and arpeggios of angelic wings in the right hand, soaring up to the heavenly atmosphere of ringing harps and sprinkles of fairy dust. The audience returns to earth and ordinary life right after the entrance of the sombre yet simple “Folies d’Espagne” tune, humbly sculpted by the left hand. This traditional theme dazzled other composers such as Corelli, Vivaldi, C.P.E. Bach, and Rachmaninoff. After entering from the far distance and creating an atmosphere of an early sunrise on the countryside, the tune gradually gathers inertia, developing and increasing its force in a myriad of exclamations and variations of the original material, erupting all over the entire range of the keyboard as a volcano of technical demands. Losing itself in a bravura of technical challenges, the player’s attention is suddenly interrupted by the charming yet innocent “Jota aragonesa” theme, creating a childlike music box effect. Liszt gradually intensifies the texture by increasing the sound layers, sonorities, and tempo, until he reaches the culmination embraced by virtuosity and intense dynamics.

— Kristina Marinova