Montsalvatge Puss in Boots

[Alan Howe]

I forget how I stumbled upon this charming opera (oh yes, it was in an old copy of Fanfare), but it's delicious and for 90% of the time fits well within our remit. The other 10% is mild neo-classicism, but since the writing is so surpassingly beautiful and varied (think the verismo of, say, Il Trittico), it fully deserves a place here. The recording to get is this one:
http://www.columnamusica.com/index2.php#disc?id=94?discmain
The cost is only EUR12 and p & p for me from Spain was free! BTW in Spanish it's El gato con botas!
Also here:  http://www.amazon.com/Xavier-Montsalvatge-Gato-Con-Botas/dp/B0001Z24JY
and here:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0001Z24JY?keywords=el%20gato%20con%20botas&qid=1454327991&ref_=sr_1_1&s=music&sr=1-1

[Alan Howe]

This piece has some of the most touching music I have ever heard. So what if it is a children's fairy-tale?

[mikehopf]

I agree... it's a wonderful work. Somewhat of a one-hit wonder, though. Everything else that I've heard by Montsalvatge is not really worth writing home about.

It's a pity that many other gifted Spanish composers of the time have fallen into neglect, at least outside Spain & the Latin countries.

Zarzuela composers like Sorozabal, Serrano, Guerrero, Luna, Alonso , Guridi et al. are well worth getting to know.

[kolaboy]

Love his piano concerto, but I imagine that piece is beyond the boundaries of this forum. Will investigate this opera...

[Mark Thomas]

I've just made the acquaintance of this utterly delicious piece, and I must say that it proves to be a quirky delight from beginning to end. Thanks to Alan for the heads up.

[Alan Howe]

Miaow!