Joly Braga Santos (1924-1988) was Portugal's best-known composer of the twentieth century. His work displayed little national flavor; it incorporated various foreign influences and changed according to prevailing trends, yet displayed a consistent melodic inclination and rhythmic verve that are recognizable across stylistic lines. His six symphonies are his best-known works, but the Naxos label's Marco Polo imprint, dedicated to the exploration of unfamiliar repertories, has issued a series of discs devoted to other music ...
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Joly Braga Santos (1924-1988) was Portugal's best-known composer of the twentieth century. His work displayed little national flavor; it incorporated various foreign influences and changed according to prevailing trends, yet displayed a consistent melodic inclination and rhythmic verve that are recognizable across stylistic lines. His six symphonies are his best-known works, but the Naxos label's Marco Polo imprint, dedicated to the exploration of unfamiliar repertories, has issued a series of discs devoted to other music by Braga Santos in recent years. This set of orchestral pieces spans his entire career, from the 20-year-old composer's Nocturno for strings to the Concerto for cello and orchestra and Staccato brilhante, written in the last year of his life.The Nocturno is a quiet, romantic work that will be enjoyed by anyone with an ear for Samuel Barber or the music of the English pastoralists, while the late Divertimento No. 2 and the dark, deliberate, more dissonant cello concerto suggest the...
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