Manuel de Falla Seven Spanish Folksongs // Principal Cello David Cohen

5 Nana 6 Canción 3 Asturiana 7 Polo Programme Note Manuel de Falla (pronounced ‘fire’) was from a small town in south-western Spain and his first great success came with the one-act opera La vida breve (Life is short) written in 1905. This allowed him to move to Paris where he became part of an artistic community that included Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel and Igor Stravinsky. Much of Falla’s output has a distinctly Spanish feel and particularly here in his Seven Spanish Folksongs. He takes the tunes and ‘reworks’ or ‘elevates’ them by adding original and clever accompaniments. They are amongst his most popular pieces today and are the ‘go to’ set of Spanish songs for sopranos. We will hear four today: ’Nana’, a lullaby; ’Canción’, a light-hearted dance; ’Asturiana’, a sad lament; and ’Polo’, which is violent and despairing. Note by Rachel Leach David Cohen cello Alina Pritulenko piano Recorded at LSO St Luke’s 29 September 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Subscribe to the LSO’s channel: Subscribe to LSO newsletter: Follow the LSO on: Instagram: Facebook: TikTok: @londonsymphonyorchestra Twitter: Website: Apple Music: Spotify: LSO Live: