This Naxos version of Lalo's Symphonie espagnole, like the Paganini concertos (see page 72) was recorded in the Concert Hall of the Polish Radio in Katowice. The resonance suits Lalo less well than Paganini. The former's tuttis are rather thickly scored, with frequent orchestral unisons and the effect brings rather ample textures. Johannes Wildner is a good accompanist and generates plenty of energy in the first movement. He also manages to make Lalo's woodwind detail (often marked rather unrealistically ppp) audible, although a sharper focus would have helped. The Andante is taken steadily and could do with more lift.
The soloist, Marat Bisengaliev, was born in Kazakhstan and studied in Moscow. He is an excellent player, with a full timbre and consummate technique and his Slavic temperament ensures that Lalo's sultry Spanish melodies are presented very appealingly, especially the engaging secondary theme of the first movement, and also in the ''Intermezzo''. The finale, however, could have profited from more sparkle from the orchestra, but there is nothing lacking in the solo playing.
The three 'encores' are splendid. Zigeunerweisen, the highlight, has real gipsy flair, the famous lyrical tune sounding properly opulent; Saint-Saens's Havanaise has warmth, style and polish; and Ravel's racy Tzigane becomes really unbuttoned at the end. The recording acoustic suits these pieces much better.
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