BBC Symphony Orchestra, Matthias Bamert - Gerhard: Symphony No. 4, 'New York' & Pandora Suite (1999)

Roberto Gerhard (1896-1970) is one of just a handful of 20th-century Spanish composers to have successfully emerged from the imposing shadow of Manuel de Falla. Gerhard's four symphonies have none of Falla's romanticism and all of the postmodern gadgetry available to any composer daring enough to use them. No languorous, moody themes; no comfortable--or comforting--structure to lull the listener: just a concatenation of brilliant expressions and marvelous conflicting ideas, chaos and noise to some, enchantment to others. Conductor Matthias Bamert puts the BBC Philharmonic through its chops--as he has done for the other entries into this series--with astonishing results. Fans of Henri Dutilleux, Leif Segerstam, and Alfred Schnittke will go crazy for the pure intelligence of this absolutely riveting music. -- Paul Cook