Capriccio Espagnol in A Major

Spanish Caprice, or Capriccio Espagnol, as it was published, was composed in the summer of 1887 after almost six years of compositional silence. Rimsky-Korsakov had initially made sketches for a projected virtuoso violin fantasy on Spanish themes, possibly in emulation of the French composer Édouard Lalo’s popular Symphonie espagnole of 1875. However, inspired by his recent study of Glinka’s clean-cut style of orchestration—quite different from Wagner’s rich sonorities, which were then in vogue—Rimsky-Korsakov transformed these into a work for full orchestra, albeit still with a prominent solo violin part. The result was an enormous hit with both orchestra and audience at its premiere in December 1887. It opens with a vigorous “Alborada” (a song for daybreak), followed by some “Variazioni”, with the earthy cellos, glowing horns and cor anglais all suggesting a balmy night, and then a recapitulation of the “Alborada”. Then follows a drumroll and trumpet fanfares, which herald a violinist playing in virtuoso Romani style; there are brief cadenzas by clarinet, then—after a brief toying of the main theme by oboe—harp, before a vigorous “Fandango” brings the suite to a rousing close.