JOLY BRAGA SANTOS (1924-1988): Piano Concerto, Op. 52, Symphonic Overtures No. 1, Op. 8 and No. 2, Op. 11 “Lisboa”, Prelude “Viver ou Morrer”, Op. 19, Pastoral, Romance, Symphonic Prelude, Intermezzo (World Premiere Recordings).

Description: The composer’s very first work for orchestra, the Symphonic Overture No. 1 (1946) and its mate from a year later share a unified structure and lyrical themes, contrasting with the somber 13-minute Prelude, originally written for an intensely tragic opera in 1952. The characterful four ‘miniatures’ (the last four items in the above listing, dating from 1955-6) are brought together to form an attractive suite, while Braga Santos’ only piano concerto is a concise (16:40) virtuoso spectacle with a large part for percussion and a gloriously anarchic approach to timbre and tonality (yes, it’s from his later, modernist period in 1973). Goran Filipec (piano), Rotal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra; Álvaro Cassuto.