JOSÉ ANTÔNIO DE ALMEIDA PRADO (1934-2010): 8 Pequenos funerais cantates ao poeta Carlos Maria de Araújo for Chorus and Orchestra, Sinfonia dos Orixás for Orchestra. 

Description: José Antônio de Almeida Prado was one of the most admired Brazilian composers of his time. The two stylistically diverse works featured on this album exemplify different creative periods in the composer’s life. The prize-winning Pequenos funerais cantantes of 1969, which was Almeida Prado’s breakthrough as a composer, is a lament full of unique sound worlds forged from different combinations of choral and orchestral writing. The superbly orchestrated Sinfonia dos Orixás (1984-85)takes as its subject the “Orishas” (deities in the Yoruba religion) – and is a personal tribute to his country’s rich Afro-Brazilian religious traditions. This big boy, 50 minutes long,is a sumptuous melodic and rhythmic feast celebrating the forces of nature. Villa-Lobos surely would have loved it. Portuguese-English texts. São Paolo Symphony Chorus, São Paolo Symphony Orchestra; Neil Thomson.