Luis de Pablo @ 75 Portrait imaginé (1974 rev 1994) Feted in Europe and Canada especially, his neglect in UK since I sponsored his appearance as featured composer at the Huddersfield Festival is inexplicable. He remains fully active and is responding to numerous commissions, including a fifth opera for this year's Venice Biennale (I reviewed La madre invita a comer there in Opera, 1993). The compositions on the Stradivarius disc are vocal, but both unusual. The hauntingly beautiful 55 mins Portrait imaginé for Ottawa (1974/1994 - wordless chorus and instrumental ensemble) has an affinity to Zurezko Olerkia, whilst Com un epìleg is sung in de Pablo's native Catalan. Razón dormida, the latest work on the Canadian
disc by the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne/Vaillancourt, returns to de Pablo's fascination with the dark, 'deep pessimism' of Goya, though the vitality of this score belies that to some extent. For fuller background, please click onto the links highlighted in BOLD. These fine CDs, which are well documented, offer an ideal opportunity to explore Spain's leading contemporary composer, and to catch up if you don't know what you're missing! Londoners will have an opportunity to hear Iñigo Aizpiolea and Iñaki Alberdi (accordion duo) give de Pablo's Three Pieces at the Royal Academy of Music on 20 January |