Saint-Saëns “La jota aragonese“ - Geoffrey Simon conducts (1st recording)

This piece is based on a traditional Spanish folk-dance depicting rustic courtship. Its melody has been used by several composers, including Glinka and Liszt. Saint-Saëns’ version dates from 1881 and is suitably scintillating and delightfully scored. The recording heard here, made in 1993, was the work’s first and it was played by the London Philharmonic under Geoffrey Simon’s direction. (From ’Cala’ CACDS4031.)