Having been away from home for three days I picked up a box with six new cds today (the largest number I have bought at the same time for many a long year!).
Yes, the Braga Santos lyrical pieces are all most attractive but oddly enough it was not the two Symphonic Overtures but the works written in the 1950s which I found most impressive: the sombre and grand Prelude to "Viver ou Morrer" and the four orchestral miniatures which pack enormously enjoyable depth into such a short time-scale.
The percussive Piano Concerto comes as quite a shock after these earlier works. That is obviously the way Braga Santos wished to go in the second half of his career and one can understand why: a composer responding to modern trends in music. I know which side of his work I prefer but ...........
It's been a heavy CD month for me too Colin!
Braga Santos on Naxos
VW and Ireland on Dutton
Ruth Gipps on Chandos
Poledouris, organ transcription of 'Conan the Barbarian' (who says I don't have refined tastes?) on Naxos.
Langgaard symphonies 2 and 6 on Dacapo.