Braga Santos studied violin and composition in Lisbon and became a disciple of Luis de Freitas Branco, a leading Portuguese composer and symphonist of the preceding generation.
Recording & Production
The Portuguese Symphony Orchestra was established in 1993 by the Portuguese Government to replace two other orchestras, with Álvaro Cassuto named as its Artistic Director and Principal Conductor.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Joly Braga Santos aimed to contribute to a "Latin symphonism" and to combat the "monumentalism" prevalent in the music of the preceding generation.
Performer Biography
Álvaro Cassuto established himself as one of Portugal's leading conductors in his early twenties and studied conducting in Vienna, earning the Kapellmeister degree in 1965.
Composer Biography
Joly Braga Santos, born in Lisbon in 1924, is considered the leading Portuguese symphonist of the 20th century, and arguably of all time, due to the limited symphonic output from previous centuries.
Compositional Technique
Braga Santos' musical language was based on a "modalism with historic roots in Portuguese polyphony of the Renaissance," which he inherited and developed from his mentor, Freitas Branco.
Critical Reception
Despite his appealing, non-avant-garde style, Joly Braga Santos received limited support, as Portuguese tradition often favored celebrated foreign artists over promising local ones.
