Lopos-Graca: Divertimento / Sinfonieta Cinco Velhos / Romances Portugueses / Quatro Invenções

Fernando Lopes-Graça was one of Portugal's greatest composers of the 20th century, whose artistic credo was the binding together of the folk music of his native country with modern techniques to create an alternative and original national identity. With its constantly shifting tonal context the Divertimento perfectly captures Lopes-Graça's inimitable style, which is further enriched in the concisely constructed Sinfonieta by his admiration for Haydn. The moving, even tragic Cinco Velhos Romances Portugueses are based on traditional ballads while the challenging Quatro Invenções, in the composer's words, explore 'essentially atonal dramatic expressionism'.

Conductor and cellist Bruno Borralhinho is one of the most outstanding Portuguese musicians of his generation, and a true ambassador for Portuguese music. He won The Violoncello Foundation 'Listener's Choice Award' for his recording of Portuguese cello concertos on Naxos 8.573461.