FRANCISCO FLETA POLO (b.1931): Viola Sonata, Op. 62, JORDI CERVELLĂ“ (b.1935): Tertis Sonata, CONRADO DEL CAMPO (1878-1953): Romanza, ROBERTO GERHARD (1896-1970): Viola Sonata.
Catalogue Number: 06P079
Label: Verso
Reference: VRS 2149
Format: CD
Price: $14.98
Description: Del Campo's Romance is entirely tonal and Romantic, almost Schumannesque, the work of a young composer with skill and instrumental experience already evident. Fleta Polo's Sonata also comes from early in the composer's output. Classically proportioned and Romantic in expression, the piece is tonal, with definite nationalistic traits in the form of typically Spanish rhythms and inflections of the lyrical melodic lines. The Gerhard is similarly in three movements, lively outer movements framing a songlike slow movement. The work's relative modernism - it is (very) freely dodecaphonic - is strongly tempered by traditional Spanish elements, extending to the use of an actual folksong as the basis of the very Spanish, dancing rondo-finale. Cervellò's Tertis Sonata is an homage to the great viola soloist and teacher. By far the most recent work here (2012) it is entirely approachable, in freely rhapsodic movements, the middle one mournfully lyrical, in a richly chromatic, tonal language. Ashan Pillai (viola), Juan Carlos Cornelles (piano).