Debussy / Ibert / Ravel: The French in Spain

This album presents orchestral works by three French composers who saw Spain as a paradise of warmth, scents, and colors, whether real or imaginary. From the vivid evocations in Claude Debussy's "Images" and Jacques Ibert's "Escales" to the dances and landscapes that inspired Maurice Ravel's "Rapsodie espagnole," these masterpieces of Impressionism demonstrate the significant influence that Spanish culture had on French composers of the early 20th century. Multiple Grammy-winning conductor JoAnn Falletta is music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) and conductor laureate of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. She has been a guest conductor for many renowned orchestras in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. As music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Falletta was the first woman to lead a major American orchestra. Her discography includes over 135 titles, and her Grammy-winning recordings include Richard Danielpour's "Women's Wail" and John Corigliano's "Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan," both with the BPO, as well as Kenneth Fuchs' "Spiritualist" with the London Symphony Orchestra.