Is it possible that we are finally running out of good music by unknown composers to record? This disc might lead you to believe so. Joaquim Serra (1907-57), allegedly extremely popular in his native Catalonia, wrote very little symphonic music, so little that one work here, the brief symphonic poem Puigsoliu, had to be orchestrated by conductor Salvador Brotons. Given the fact that one of Serra’s outstanding talents (theoretically) was orchestration, this doesn’t sound very promising; and indeed Brotons’ efforts certainly fail to rise to any special level of distinction. Nor is the music itself–a pale reflection of Granados and Albeniz that lacks even the melodic charm and grace of say, Turina–at all memorable.
Probably the most successful piece here is the Two Symphonic Sketches, replete with conventional “Spanishisms” but rhythmically peppy and gratifyingly brief. Rural Impressions conveys little obviously rustic character and the tunes themselves curiously lack personality, though the idiom remains pleasant enough. Romàntica is a pretty, four-minute “song without words” of sultry mien, while the most ambitious work is the 18-minute-long Variations for Piano and Orchestra. After a promising, atmospheric opening, the piece quickly becomes formulaic, with lengthy orchestral statements alternating with surprisingly uninteresting keyboard commentary. Nor does soloist Emili Brugalia’s contribution ever move beyond the merely competent.
The same holds true for the playing of the El Vallès Symphony Orchestra. Although the music isn’t especially challenging and the musicians certainly don’t let the composer down, horns and strings seriously lack tonal allure (check out track 10 for some particularly unpleasant violin sawing and scraping) and they play with a limited dynamic range (do the trumpets ever really offer a true fortissimo?) that further reduces the vibrancy and impact of this rather faded music. Naxos’ sonics are good if not exceptional, and we can assume that Brotons knows this composer as well as anyone alive–but that won’t make a silk purse out of this particular musical sow’s ear. Some composers just aren’t worth reviving.
