FALLA: “EL AMOR BRUJO”; FLAMENCO SELECTIONS; Rocio...

FALLA: “EL AMOR BRUJO”; FLAMENCO SELECTIONS; Rocio Jurado, mezzo-soprano; Antonio Gades and his dancers; Orquesta Nacional de Espana conducted by Jesus Lopez-Cobos. Angel DS-38338 (digital). This original soundtrack recording of Carlos Saura’s latest cinematic collaboration with dancer-choreographer Gades includes one of the earthier Falla recordings in a long while. Jurado’s rich, smoky, unpolished mezzo sounds like an emissary from the Iberian soil rather than a visitor from the concert hall, while Lopez-Cobos contributes all the requisite color and sinuosity. The 11 vocal-instrumental selections on the reverse are too brief to be convincing, although Antonio Solera sounds like a guitarist to conjure with.