El barquillero (Chapí)

Toñy Rosado, Carlos Munguía, Juan de Andía. Coro Cantores de Madrid, Orquesta Sinfónica, c. Ataulfo Argenta
Novoson Z-548
Columbia BS 7203 [cassette tape]

Chapí's supplied a sophisticated score for this typical genéro chico romance of Madrid street life, and the soprano "Cuando el amor" is rightly among his most celebrated romanzas. It is sung here with touching warmth by Rosado, and the rest of the performance is equally successful. The original LP was coupled with an equally valuable Las bravías and the same is true of the Columbia tape, currently the only way that excellent score can be sampled in its entirety.

The Novoson transfer to CD is unaccountably bad, given the reasonable sonic quality of the old Columbia tape. The coupling - Torregrosa's lovely La fiesta de San Antón - is hardly so logical either. Still, one CD issue is better than nothing. Just about.

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