Santos: Symphony No. 4 / Symphonic Variations
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JOLY BRAGA SANTOS
Santos: Symphony No. 4 / Symphonic Variations
Ireland National Symphony Orchestra, Álvaro Cassuto
[ Marco Polo / CD ]
Release Date: Monday 10 June 2002
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Undoubtedly the leading Portuguese symphonist of the twentieth century, Joly Braga Santos was a gifted composer for the orchestra. His musical language is based on a strong sense of architecture as well as drama, with generous melodic lines and a natural instinct for structural development. In his own words, he wanted to contribute "toward a Latin symphonism and to react against the predominant tendency of the generation that preceded me to reject monumentalism in music". At times recalling the symphonies of Bruckner and Sibelius, Braga Santos' Symphony No. 4 is one of his longest and most accomplished in balance and form, as well as in orchestration. The Symphonic Variations on a popular song from the Alentejo are influenced by local folk-songs, which the composer considered to be "of mesmerizing originality and grandeur".
"The Irish orchestra plays idiomatically and with polish, and the engineers have done their part to make friends for this music as well. I have nothing with which to compare these performances, but they seem very solid to me...as I said at the start of this review, "Tremendous!"" Fanfare
"Cassuto's cycle has taken him to a variety of orchestras, all producing excellent results, and Marco Polo's various engineers have presented it in fine sound. The series as a whole has moved Braga Santos from the periphery of twentieth-century music rather closer to the centre, his modal means associating him with Vaughan Williams and his busy inner parts with Moeran. One hopes the acclaim will have persuaded Marco Polo to send Cassuto back to record more of the Portuguese symphonic repertoire. In the meantime, I recommend this release as heartily as all its predecessors." International Record Review
"The NSOI give a splendid account of themselves in this richly affirmative music. Tim Handley's sound is full and natural. Recommended with enthusiasm." Gramophone
Tracks:
Symphonic Variations on a popular song from the Alentejo
Symphony No. 4
