Chapi, Ruperto: Fantasia Morisca (Naxos Audio CD)

Orquesta de la Comunidad de Madrid
José Ramón Encinar


Ruperto Chapí composed theatrical and chamber music, opera and symphonic pieces, including the two early works on this disc.

Originally composed in 1873 as a suite for military band, Fantasía morisca was revised six years later for full orchestra and is notable for the nobility, elegance and poetic character of its four contrasting movements.

While Fantasía morisca shows the influence of Bizet, Saint-Saëns and Massenet, the Symphony in D minor draws instead on Classical Viennese models, yet showcases the young Chapí’s mastery of orchestral colour, as well as his gift for expansive melodies and rich harmonies.

“The devotion of the performers is visceral and intense. José Ramón Encinar leads the Orchestra of the Comunidad de Madrid with fearless abandon. The orchestra doesn’t merely navigate the thickets of notes, they play them with frightening commitment.” MusicWeb International