ERNESTO HALFFTER (1905-1989) Danza de la gitana (The Gypsy's Dance) Alicia de Larrocha (piano) Recorded: 1970, London, England _______________________________________________________ ERNESTO HALFFTER (1905-1989) is one of the more important Spanish composers of the twentieth century. Yet he considered himself modestly, just as a pupil of Manuel de Falla, whom he admired, both as an artist and as a morally exemplary human being. Nevertheless, Halffter was aware of his all-round musical talent, and that he was not lacking in ideas. His father, Ernest Halffter Hein, a Prussian jeweller, who had settled in Madrid and married a Spaniard, Rosario Escriche Erradón, was completely supportive of the idea of his eldest and third-born sons, Rodolfo and Ernesto, choosing music as a profession. Perhaps this interest in music was inherited from their grandparents, Andalusians hailing from Écija (Seville), who were both opera lovers, while, according to Yolanda Acker, the musicologist and specialist in the works of Ernesto Halffter, their grandfather, Emilio Escriche, was also an excellent painter. Ernesto began his education at the Colegio Alemán in Madrid and soon stood out in the world of music, as did his brother Rodolfo, for whom he wrote opera libretti. His earliest composition dates from 1911, when he was just six years old. In 1922 Ernesto's piano teacher, the Hungarian Fernando Ember, performed his pupil's first piano works, including the three pieces from Crepúsculos at the Ritz Hotel in Madrid. A short time later after their first meeting in 1923, the young Halffter sent Falla the score of his Trio for violin, violoncello and piano, on which the Andalusian composer, wrote "Bravo!" *************************************************************************************************** Watch Alicia de Larrocha playing E.Halffter: Danza de la Pastora https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU_UnEM-ZV8 Audio: Halffter: Danza de la Pastora https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUZTVa1p0-Q Albéniz-Halffter: Rapsodia española https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqI6Bnk-O1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi4zausUA7M *************************************************************************************************** ALICIA DE LARROCHA Official website: http://www.aliciadelarrocha.com/international-pianist Facebook official page: https://www.facebook.com/COOPERALIA?fref=ts ***************************************************************************************************