Santos, Bernardo & Orquestra Filarmnica Portuguesa & Osvaldo Ferreira
Coelho, De Falla: Iberian Nights, Works For Piano And A
Noites nas Ruas da Mouraria (Nights in the Streets of Mouraria) by Ruy Coelho and Noches en los Jardines de Espaa (Nights in the Gardens of Spain) by Manuel de Falla represent two unique approaches to Iberian music for piano and orchestra. Both works evoke nocturnal atmospheres inspired by specific cultural and geographical landscapes, blending virtuosic pianistic writing with rich orchestral textures. De Fallas impressionistic sonorities transport the listener to Andalusian gardens, while Coelhos evocative themes capture the vibrant and mysterious essence of Lisbons Mouraria district. This recording, by pianist Bernardo Santos with the Orquestra Filarmonica Portuguesa conducted by Osvaldo Ferreira, offers the first-ever commercial release of Noites nas Ruas da Mouraria, preserving an essential piece of Portuguese symphonic heritage. By pairing these two works, the album highlights the artistic connections between De Falla and Coelho and their shared vision of Iberian musical identity. The programmatic nature of both compositions sets them apart from traditional concertos, allowing the piano and orchestra to create vivid soundscapes rather than engaging in a conventional soloist-accompaniment relationship. This CD thus revives and expands the appreciation of Ruy Coelhos legacy while celebrating the poetic and impressionistic dimensions of Iberian music.