Well, members have been urging us from time to time to give Joly Braga Santos a go - and I have always thought that he can't be that good. But I was wrong. Today has been my 'bowled over by Braga Santos' Symphony No.2' day. He was evidently a master of the orchestra from an early age and was able to forge a personal style from what sound like some pretty disparate elements: Vaughan Williams, Respighi, Sibelius. This is big music, isn't it? Unapologetically epic, almost filmic. But magnificent. I have, of course, ordered all the remaining Marco Polo CDs of the symphonies and await more revelations...
Prepare to be bowled over, blown away and left limp by his Fourth Symphony.
After No.2, I'm well prepared!!
Good! Please let us know how you react to the rest of the Santos' symphonies.