Three symphonies by contemporary Spanish composer Tomas Marco (1942-).
The disc kicks off with the one-movement Symphony No.2 entitled "Espacio cerrado" (Closed Space), and as one might suspect the general texture is one of inclosing walls, slamming doors and claustrophobic uncertainty. That said, the sound is rich with deep, disturbing colour and has an embracing quality.
The same can be said of Symphony No.9 "Thalassa": imagine being in a huge gothic hall and you are deliriously drunk, everything is slowly turning - the walls, the ceiling, the chandeliers, the paintings, the furniture, the ornaments ... whoa! woozy, queasy. Also, in Greek mythology "Thalassa" is a primordial sea goddess, so perhaps the vibe conjured is one of being cast adrift in a boat on undulating waters under a pristine yet sun-dazzling sky ... woozy, queasy, giddy, choppy.
Symphony No.8 "Gaia'a Dance" concludes the triptych of dizzying delights, yet into this work comes an added dose of quirky playfulness, a sort of cartoonish mischief (with Arabian tinges). Again the mood feels drunk or delirious. Strange people are dancing. The world is turning, spinning, whirling. Beware, the ground beneath this music's feet is not stable!
