PERU NEGRO Archive

JIMMY LÓPEZ: Péru Negro; Synesthésie; Lord of the Air; América Salvaje – HM

by Audiophile Audition | Jan 1, 2016 | Classical CD Reviews

JIMMY LÓPEZ: Péru Negro; Synesthésie; Lord of the Air; América Salvaje – Jesus Castro-Balbi, cello/Norwegian Radio Orch./ Miguel Harth-Bedoya – Harmonia mundi HMU 907628, 77:39 (8/14/15) ****: Bold new works from this exciting new composer. Strictly speaking, Peruvian-born Jimmy Lopez is not ‘new’ – except to me. In fact, López was recently hailed by The Chicago Sun-Times as, ”one of the most interesting young composers working anywhere today.” It is easy to see why based on these four captivating works included here. Lopez’s sound is fully tonal and fully exciting with a feel that contains much of his South American roots and an almost cinematic breadth. There are spots that reminded me of Chavez, Revueltas and also John Adams and various film scores. It is nearly impossible to describe and all the more refreshing for it. Lopez is also a very cosmopolitan and widely educated man, having received training in his homeland of Peru, also at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and a doctorate at UC Berkeley. The four works here are all diverse and representative of his highly attractive style. For example, his Péru Negro (Black Peru) is based on indigenous Afro-Peruvia melodies and was written for the present […]