Ronaldo Miranda (b. 1948)
Piano Concerto (1983)
Horizontes (1992)
Concertino for piano and strings (1986)
Variacoes Temporais (Beethoven Revisitado) (2014)Eduardo Monteiro (piano)
Minas Gerais Philharmonic Orchestra/Fabio Mechetti
rec. 2023, Sala Minas Gerais, Brazil
Naxos 8.574591 [60]
This latest title in Naxos’ series exploring music from Brazil features Ronaldo Miranda who hails from Rio de Janeiro. I have not heard any of his music before, though he is considered one of Brazil’s leading composers. His music has been winning awards since 1977. In addition to composing, he has worked as a music critic for the Jornal do Brasil, and as an academic and administrator. The album features three world premiere recordings; only the concertino has been recorded before (review).
The main work on the disc is the Piano Concerto, an intense, modernist work with echoes of Bartók and Ginastera. The writing is angular and spiky, particularly in the first movement where the marking tenso/tense is entirely appropriate. But it is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, as for all the angularity, Miranda is clearly a melodist at heart and the melodic invention wins. The piano writing is clean and direct with not an extraneous note. The orchestration is colourful and atmospheric and there is much interplay between the piano and unusual combinations of instruments. Eduardo Monteiro plays with great clarity in what is often exposed two-part writing.
The two movement Concertino for Piano and Strings, with its more tonal writing and use of Latin American rhythms is instantly appealing. The motivic writing is interspersed with melodies of beautifully lyrical melancholy. There are some ‘juicy’ chords but nothing to frighten the listener. The finale is a rondo based around a nursery-like tune in ¾. Its appearances are separated by episodes of more chromatic writing which makes its return all the more welcome. Miranda shows himself to be a master of form, racking up tension and resolving it perfectly in the six minutes it takes to play the movement. It is hugely enjoyable and the players seem to be having fun as well.
Horizontes is an award-winning symphonic suite that tells the story of Christopher Columbus’s voyage to the New World. In three movements entitled Departure, Waiting, Discovery, it is cinematic in its depiction of a voyage that would have so many implications for the world. There is some effective sound-painting for sea and sky the music clearly depicting the titles but perhaps a little too rose tinted in outlook.
The disc ends with the most recent work Variacoes Temporais (Beethoven Revisitato). This was written as a prelude to a performance of Beethoven’s Pastoral symphony and as such includes quotations from a variety of Beethoven sonatas including the Waldstein, Tempest and Spring. I am sure I also heard a fragment of Wagner but could not quite place it. It is a quirky little piece that seems to have moved on from its original idea. It certainly did not make me think, ‘I must listen to Beethoven’s Pastoral now’. That said, it is very inventive and diverting with clever subversions of Beethoven expertly orchestrated. As a stand-alone overture it could, I think, have a great future.
The Minas Gerais Philharmonic Orchestra, which was founded only in 2008, responds well to Fabio Mechetti and makes an elegant well-rounded sound. There is much exposed solo writing which the players are more than a match for. The liner notes tell us that this orchestra is recording all the Mahler symphonies, which is certainly something I will be looking out for.
Paul RW Jackson
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