Two Twenty-first century concertos written for guitar duos from Latin
America’s foremost composers, the Cuban, Leo Brouwer, and from Brazil,
Paulo Bellinati. Almost an octogenarian, Brouwer has been hugely
prolific in his supply of music for guitar, and in the past I have been
rather ambivalent towards his deluge of scores that include twelve
guitar concertos. His first concerto for two guitars, named
The Book of Signs,
was completed in 2003, and I would unhesitatingly describe it as the
finest work I have heard from him. Rather unusual in construction, and
relying on Beethoven’s piano work,
32 Variations in C minor, for
the first movement’s thematic material, his skill in creating the
complexity in interweaving the two instruments is continually
intriguing. Enclose this in Latin American rhythms and a pro-active
string orchestra, and the score certainly needed a slow movement to
reduce the radiant temperature. With more than a passing relationship to
a romantic Hollywood film sound-track, it leads to a final Allegro in
the form of a tricky Rondo with a sentimental central section. In total,
the work plays for around three quarters of an hour, and more than
twice the length of Bellinati’s
Concerto Caboclo. Completed in
2011, and with a full orchestral accompaniment, it is just one step away
from the world of ‘pop’ music, with tunes you will think you have heard
somewhere before in the opening movement, and in direct descent of
Rodrigo in the finale. The Brasil Duo is technically superb in the
complex passages from Brouwer, and suitably smooth in the smoochy
Bellinati. Very effective orchestral participation from Delaware and
their conductor, David Amado. The recording quality is outstanding in
every aspect.
(David Denton)
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