After the successful CD “Danzon” (WWM 500.175) “Danzas Fantasticas” is another superb record by this high quality Spanish symphonic band, conducted by the Dutch Bram Sniekers.

This time, the Banda de Lalin blows its warm-blooded sounds into your living-room by means of transcriptions of music by Cuban, Mexican, French and, of course, Spanish composers.  Danzas Fantasticas by Joaquín Turina is a brilliant Spanish composition inspired by José Mas’s novel ‘La Orgía’. It gathers three different dance styles. The compositions by Serra are known because of the Catalan influences, yet  Estampes Simfòniques is a composition with typical Andalusian characteristics. The piece boasts a popular gipsy dance and tells about an Andalusian festival.  Conga del Fuego Nuevo’ is a stirring Latin-American piece by composer Arturo Márquez (composer of Danzon no.2) which is extremely well suited as an encore.  Two Cuban Dances’ (Alejandro García Caturla) consists of two short characteristic dances with a typical Cuban rhythm.  Joyeuse Marche’ by Emmanuel Chabrier is a great colourful orchestral march dedicated to Vincent d'Indy. The CD concludes with the world famous compelling ballet music  Bolero’ by Maurice Ravel.

Danzas Fantásticas (Joaquín Turina, arr. Douglas McLain)

1.  Exaltación  5.32

2.  Ensueño  5.47

3.  Orgía  4.34

Estampes Simfòniques (Joaquim Serra, arr. Douglas McLain)

4.  Danza Gitana  4.12

5.  Fiesta Andaluza  5.09

6.  Conga del Fuego Nuevo (Arturo Márquez arr. Oliver Nickel)  4.55

Two Cuban Dances (Alejandro García Caturla arr. Douglas McLain)

7.  Danza lucumi  1.05

8.  Danza del tambor 1.07

9.  Joyeuse Marche Emmanuel Chabrier arr. Marc Koninkx) 3.57

10.  Bolero (Maurice Ravel arr. Marco Tamanini) 13.57