With Heitor Villa-Lobos and Carlos Chávez, Alberto Ginastera is one of the three greatest figures of Latin American music of the twentieth century. In 2016 we celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth. Except the Danzas Argentinas for piano and the Danzas from the ballet Estancia, Ginestera remains unknown.  The « Malambo » from the symphonic suite of Estancia (also a favorite encore of Gustavo Dudamel) is now a symphonic tube, the complete ballet remains a full rarity. This ballet tells a story of hard working « gauchos », Argentinian cow-boys, who work for the estancias, the big farms of the pampa. Juanjo Mena is very efficient and he emphasizes the rhythmical clarity of this music. However, he could get more abrupt in his performance. The Symphonic Pastoral Pampeana n°3 and Symphonic Movements Ollantay show Ginastera’s fascination for landscapes of his country and the myths of pre-Columbian Argentina. The conducting of Juanjo Mena is very colored and powerful. The BBC Philharmonic is, as usual, outstanding and the sound is demonstrative ! 

Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983) : Orchestral Works 1 : Pampeana n°3, Op.24 ; Ollantay, Op.17 ; Estancia, Op.8. Lucas Somoza Osterc, baritone. BBC Philharmonic, Juanjo Mena.  1 CD Chandos. CHAN 10884.