“…there is some memorable music to be found with some marvellous moments anticipating the composer’s mature style. This latest installment in Chandos’ survey of Spanish music makes a fine addition to the work’s discography. I admired Mena’s previous release of Falla’s masterworks so his refined ear and idiomatic flair pays dividends here, aided and abetted by superb recorded sound – the haunting opening with offstage men’s chorus ideally balanced and the anvils for once sound convincing. The polished wind and brass of the BBC Philharmonic does justice to Falla’s marvellous orchestral effects … The imported chorus and Latin cast sound suitably authentic …”  ****

“…A characteristic of Mena’s musical approach is a strongly lyrical, poetic style. He has a gift for bringing out the gentler aspects of any piece he conducts. That is very much the case here, in a profoundly beautiful, even devout, performance of this classic of Spanish music. This beauty of sound is matched in a characteristically warm Chandos recording, admirably suited to a performance such as this. Throughout one is conscious of the love thrown over the whole work, as well as the meticulous preparation of all involved. A great deal of thought has gone into the recording, with all-Spanish forces, apart from the ever-admirable BBC Philharmonic. The RTVE Symphony Chorus obviously flew to Manchester for the occasion. This opera, despite its brevity, depends very much on the quality of the chorus, and the authenticity pays dividends…”

“…This Chandos recording really gains in having been captured in an extraordinarily clear, spacious but not over-resonant acoustic. This allows much of the brilliance of the orchestration to register as never before. Juanjo Mena and the BBC Philharmonic have worked hard to get these aspects dynamically balanced and engineer Stephen Rinker captures the spatial effects of distant voices and wordless choruses brilliantly. And it’s super to have a truly idiomatic flamenco singer, Segundo Falcón, whose important interjections amidst the street celebrations of Paco’s wedding open the second Act; all the earthiness and amazing resonance of this distinctive voice rings true… “ ****

“… Mena’s enthusiasm for the work must have rubbed off on them [the orchestra], because they are instrumental in creating the work’s all-important atmosphere. Those dark, sinuous strings of the opening are hair-raisingly good, as are the sparkling Act 2 dances and the bright winds of the Intermezzo. The singers are all very good, too. That chorus were worth the air fare, because they enliven everything they do. They are careworn and downtrodden as the workers in the opening scene, but then they set the scene alight in the wedding, stamping their feet and Olé!-ing convincingly. The soloists are very good, too. Nancy Fabiola Herrera is sympathetic … That lothario lover is sung with ardour by Aquiles Machado, and the baritone richness of José Antonio López is a welcome contrast as the avenging uncle… Segundo Falcón deserves a special mention as the flamenco singer, engulfing the scene with the smoke from his wonderful voice… this disc is worthwhile, particularly as proof that a British orchestra can play Spanish music like the best of them.”

“… worthy of attention …”

“Falla struggled to get his only opera, Life Is Short, performed in his home town, Madrid, and it remains a fringe work despite its outstanding quality… this is a worthy successor to classic accounts … Nancy Fabiola Herrera (as Salud), Aquiles Machado (as Paco) and Mena are powerful advocates for this pinnacle of Spanish “verismo”.”

“… vividly played and recorded…”

“… Mena prises open textures and sonorities with great subtlety and attention to detail, so that we’re fully able to appreciate the shifting colours of Falla’s writing for strings and woodwind, much indebited to Dukas and Debussy, and his refined yet telling use of brass and percussion. The playing immaculately blends clarity with sensuousness, while the Coro de la Radio e Televisión España sing with admirable warmth of tone …”