# Capriccio Espagnol

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1887 orchestral suite by Rimsky-Korsakov

Capriccio espagnol Orchestral suite by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov The composer in 1893, portrayed by Ilya Repin Native name Russian: Каприччио на испанские темы Opus 34 Composed 1887 (1887) Movements five Scoring orchestra

***Capriccio espagnol***, [Op](/source/Opus_number). 34, is the common Western title for a five movement [orchestral suite](/source/Orchestral_suite), based on [Spanish](/source/Spain) folk melodies, composed by the [Russian](/source/Russia) composer [Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov](/source/Nikolai_Rimsky-Korsakov) in 1887. It received its premiere on 31 October 1887, in St. Petersburg, performed by the Imperial Orchestra conducted by the composer.[1] Rimsky-Korsakov originally intended to write the work for a solo [violin](/source/Violin) with [orchestra](/source/Orchestra), but later decided that a purely orchestral work would do better justice to the lively melodies. The Russian title is ***Каприччио на испанские темы*** (literally, ***Capriccio on Spanish Themes***).

A complete performance of the *Capriccio* takes approximately 16 minutes.

## Structure

The work is scored for [piccolo](/source/Piccolo), 2 [flutes](/source/Western_concert_flute), 2 [oboes](/source/Oboes) (one doubling on [cor anglais](/source/Cor_anglais)), 2 [clarinets](/source/Clarinets) (in [B♭](/source/Soprano_clarinet) and A), 2 [bassoons](/source/Bassoons), 4 [horns](/source/French_horn) (in F), 2 [trumpets](/source/Trumpets) (in B♭, A), 3 [trombones](/source/Trombones), [tuba](/source/Tuba), [percussion](/source/Percussion_instrument) ([timpani](/source/Timpani), [triangle](/source/Triangle_(musical_instrument)), [side drum](/source/Side_drum), [bass drum](/source/Bass_drum), [cymbals](/source/Cymbals), [tambourine](/source/Tambourine), and [castanets](/source/Castanets)), [harp](/source/Harp), and [strings](/source/String_section).[2]

It has five movements, divided into two parts comprising the first three and the latter two movements respectively.

1. Alborada
1. Variazioni
1. Alborada
1. Scena e canto gitano ("Scene and [Gypsy](/source/Romani_(people)) song")
1. Fandango asturiano

The first movement is a festive and exciting dance, typically from traditional [Asturian music](/source/Music_of_Asturias#Songs) to celebrate the rising of the sun. It features the clarinet with two solos, and later features a solo violin with a solo similar to the clarinet's.

The second movement begins with a melody in the [horn](/source/French_horn) section. Variations of this melody are then repeated by other instruments and sections of the orchestra.

The third movement presents the same [Asturian](/source/Asturias) dance as the first movement. The two movements are nearly identical, in fact, except that this movement has a different instrumentation and [key](/source/Key_(music)).

The fourth movement opens with five [cadenzas](/source/Cadenza) — first by the horns and [trumpets](/source/Trumpet), then solo violin, [flute](/source/Flute), [clarinet](/source/Clarinet), and [harp](/source/Harp) — played over [rolls](/source/Drum_roll) on various [percussion instruments](/source/Percussion_instrument). It is then followed by a dance in triple time leading *[attacca](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/attacca)* into the final movement.

The fifth and final movement is also an energetic dance from the [Asturias](/source/Asturias) region of northern Spain. The piece ends with an even more rousing statement of the *Alborada* theme.

## Characteristics

The piece is often lauded for its orchestration, which features a large percussion section and many special [techniques](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Musical_performance_techniques) and [articulations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Articulations_(music)), such as in the fourth movement when the violinists, violists, and cellists are asked to imitate guitars (the violin and viola parts are marked "quasi guitara"). Despite the critical praise, Rimsky-Korsakov was annoyed that the other aspects of the piece were being ignored. In his autobiography, he wrote:

The opinion formed by both critics and the public, that the *Capriccio* is a *magnificently orchestrated piece* — is wrong. The *Capriccio* is a brilliant *composition for the orchestra*. The change of timbres, the felicitous choice of melodic designs and figuration patterns, exactly suiting each kind of instrument, brief virtuoso cadenzas for instruments solo, the rhythm of the percussion instruments, etc., constitute here the very *essence* of the composition and not its garb or orchestration. The Spanish themes, of dance character, furnished me with rich material for putting in use multiform orchestral effects. All in all, the *Capriccio* is undoubtedly a purely external piece, but vividly brilliant for all that. It was a little less successful in its third section (Alborada, in B-flat major), where the brasses somewhat drown the melodic designs of the woodwinds; but this is very easy to remedy, if the conductor will pay attention to it and moderate the indications of the shades of force in the brass instruments by replacing the fortissimo by a simple forte.

## In popular culture

- The work is played during the opening credits and as the Spanish Carnival background music during [Josef von Sternberg](/source/Josef_von_Sternberg)'s film *[The Devil Is a Woman](/source/The_Devil_Is_a_Woman_(1935_film))* (1935), credited on screen as 'Music based on Rimsky-Korsakoff's "Spanish Caprice" and Old Spanish Melodies'.

- Excerpts were heard in the fictional 1947 biopic of Rimsky-Korsakov, *[Song of Scheherazade](/source/Song_of_Scheherazade)*.

- A recording by the Moscow Radio Symphony in the film *[Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown](/source/Women_on_the_Verge_of_a_Nervous_Breakdown)* (1988).

- The work’s third and fifth movements are featured in the *[Baby Einstein](/source/Baby_Einstein)* video [*Neighborhood Animals*](/source/List_of_Baby_Einstein_videos).

- A recording by "Philharmonia Slavonica" featured in the film *[Brokeback Mountain](/source/Brokeback_Mountain)* (2005). The "Philharmonia Slavonica" is a pseudonymous group that appears on a number of recordings of the bargain-record producer [Alfred Scholz](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alfred_Scholz&action=edit&redlink=1). The performances attributed to them are often by the Austrian Radio (ORF) Orchestra.

- The work's fourth movement is featured prominently in a 1998 television commercial for [Pizza Hut](/source/Pizza_Hut), [famously starring the former leader of the Soviet Union](/source/Mikhail_Gorbachev_Pizza_Hut_commercial), [Mikhail Gorbachev](/source/Mikhail_Gorbachev).

- An orchestra performs the opening of the piece in the series *[Little Fires Everywhere](/source/Little_Fires_Everywhere_(miniseries))* (2020).

## Ballet Adaptations

- *Capriccio Espagnol* choreographed by [Leonid Massine](/source/L%C3%A9onide_Massine) in collaboration with Argentinita with Scenery and Costumes by Mariano Andreu. First performed by the [Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo](/source/Ballet_Russe_de_Monte-Carlo) at the [Opéra de Monte-Carlo](/source/Op%C3%A9ra_de_Monte-Carlo) on May 4, 1939 with Argentinita as the Gypsy Girl, Leonid Massine as a Gypsy Youth, [Alexandra Danilova](/source/Alexandra_Danilova) as a Peasant Girl, Michael Paniev as a Peasant Youth and member of the company.[3] This ballet was later produced by [Warner Bros.](/source/Warner_Bros.) for the film "Spanish Fiesta."[4]

- *Capriccio Espagnol* choreographed by Roman Mykyta and originally performed by the [Ballet Theatre of Maryland](/source/Ballet_Theatre_of_Maryland) in January 2023.[5]

## Notable recordings

- [London Symphony Orchestra](/source/London_Symphony_Orchestra) conducted by [Ataúlfo Argenta](/source/Ata%C3%BAlfo_Argenta) ([Decca Records](/source/Decca_Records), 1957)

- [New York Philharmonic](/source/New_York_Philharmonic) conducted by [Leonard Bernstein](/source/Leonard_Bernstein) ([Sony Classical](/source/Sony_Classical_Records), 1959)

- [Berlin Philharmonic](/source/Berlin_Philharmonic) conducted by [Lorin Maazel](/source/Lorin_Maazel) ([Deutsche Grammophon](/source/Deutsche_Grammophon), 1959)

- [Czech Philharmonic](/source/Czech_Philharmonic) conducted by [Karel Ančerl](/source/Karel_An%C4%8Derl) ([Supraphon](/source/Supraphon), 1964)

- [Philadelphia Orchestra](/source/Philadelphia_Orchestra) conducted by [Eugene Ormandy](/source/Eugene_Ormandy) ([Sony Classical](/source/Sony_Classical_Records), 1965)

- [London Symphony Orchestra](/source/London_Symphony_Orchestra) conducted by [Sir Charles Mackerras](/source/Charles_Mackerras) ([Telarc](/source/Telarc_International_Corporation), 1990)

- [Oslo Philharmonic](/source/Oslo_Philharmonic) conducted by [Vasily Petrenko](/source/Vasily_Petrenko) (LAWO Classics, 2020)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Capriccio espagnol, op. 34](https://www.redlandssymphony.com/pieces/capriccio-espagnol-op-34) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220820235522/https://www.redlandssymphony.com/pieces/capriccio-espagnol-op-34) 2022-08-20 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) Redlands Symphony

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Spanish_Capriccio,_Op.34_(Rimsky-Korsakov,_Nikolay)"](http://imslp.org/wiki/Spanish_Capriccio,_Op.34_%28Rimsky-Korsakov,_Nikolay%29). IMSLP.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Balanchine, George (1954). *Balanchine's New Complete Stories of the Great Ballets*. Garden City: Doubleday & Company, Inc.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Norton, Leslie. *Leonid Massine and the 20th Century Ballet*. McFarland & Company, Inc.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Ballet Theatre Of Maryland Presents "Momentum: A Mixed Bill" - Severna Park"](https://www.severnaparkvoice.com/stories/ballet-theatre-of-maryland-presents-momentum-a-mixed-bill,53676?). *Severna Park Voice*. 2023-01-18. Retrieved 2025-02-22.

- "Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov: Works; orchestral," [http://www.grovemusic.com](http://www.grovemusic.com) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080516041031/http://www.grovemusic.com/) 2008-05-16 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (available by subscription only), viewed 2007-02-28.

- Laki, Peter. [Cleveland Orchestra program notes for performances on January 28 and 29, 2005](https://web.archive.org/web/20050316230810/http://www.clevelandorchestra.com/images/FTPImages/Performance/program_notes/021805.html).

## External links

- [Capriccio Espagnol](https://imslp.org/wiki/Capriccio_Espagnol,_Op.34_(Rimsky-Korsakov,_Nikolai)): Scores at the [International Music Score Library Project](/source/International_Music_Score_Library_Project)

v t e Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov List of compositions Operas The Maid of Pskov (1872) May Night (1879) The Snow Maiden (1881) Mlada (1890) Christmas Eve (1895) Sadko (1896) Mozart and Salieri (1897) The Noblewoman Vera Sheloga (1897) The Tsar's Bride (1899) The Tale of Tsar Saltan (1900) Servilia (1901) Kashchey the Immortal (1902) Pan Voyevoda (1903) The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya (1904) The Golden Cockerel (1908) Opera excerpts "Flight of the Bumblebee" Film adaptations The Snow Maiden (1952 film) Sadko (1953 film) The Tsar's Bride (1965 film) Orchestral works Capriccio Espagnol Fantasy on Serbian Themes Suites (2) from Mlada Russian Easter Festival Overture Sadko Scheherazade Suite from The Golden Cockerel Suite from The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya Suite from The Snow Maiden Suite from The Tale of Tsar Saltan Symphonies Symphony No. 1 in E minor Antar (Symphony No. 2) Symphony No. 3 Concertos Piano Concerto in C♯ minor Trombone Concerto in B♭ major Cultural depictions Rimsky-Korsakov (1953 film) Family Nadezhda Rimskaya-Korsakova (wife) Mikhail Rimsky-Korsakov Andrey Rimsky-Korsakov (sons) Voin Rimsky-Korsakov (brother) Ivan Rimsky-Korsakov (distant relative) Maximilian Steinberg (son-in-law) Related articles Rimsky-Korsakov Apartment and Museum Rimsky-Korsakov Monument Category

Authority control databases National France BnF data Other MusicBrainz work

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Capriccio Espagnol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capriccio_Espagnol) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capriccio_Espagnol?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.