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<< -- 4 -- Carson P Cooman CHARACTERISTICALLY ECLECTIC
The resulting piece, though somewhat 'odd' compared to almost any other treatments of spirituals, is a very exciting work. Within each movement, one is swept up in the fantasy treatment and Balada always approaches the 'found' material in creative manners that still hint towards the originals.
The performances on the disc are very strong with Madrid's orchestra and chorus having a tremendous affinity for Balada's style. Irish narrator Denis Raft, currently resident in Spain, does an excellent job with projection and intelligibility of the countless languages involved in the thorny narrator part of No-res.
At Naxos's bargain prices, every serious listener interested in contemporary music should own the entire Balada series. One can buy the whole series of discs for what other labels might charge for only two releases!
However, both this disc, along with the previously reviewed Guernica release provide distinguished introductions to this strong composer's personal musical voice.
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