Ernesto Halffter - Serenade a Dulcinee

Ernesto Halffter, from mixed German/Spanish ancestry, was the star pupil of Manuel de Falla, some of whose works he completed and/or transcribed. Halffter's main influences were Falla, Scarlatti, Stravinsky, and Spanish music from Renaissance to flamenco.

The Serenata a Dulcinea was written in 1945 and published in 1951. It was adapted from the music Halffter wrote to the 1943 play "Dulcinea" by the Portuguese writer Carlos Salvagem (a pseudonym of Alfonso dos Santos). The piece is dedicated to Maria Isabel de Franco. Seeing as Halffter took sides with Franco during the Spanish Civil war, it is tempting to assume this lady was related to the Generalissimo. But I could not find any evidence about this. In any case I can't bring myself to condemn the composer for making the wrong choice at the time.

I recorded this touching, elegant and wistful piece in may 2011. I hope you like it as much as I do.

Chris Breemer, piano
https://buymeacoffee.com/cbreemer