TheBarcelona Symphony Orchestra has produced a monographic disc dedicated to the composer and violinist Joan Manén. The recording is a double album on the Naxos record label, and is the first recording in the world of two monumental works from the same production, namely Violin Concerto, No.3 “Ibérico” and Symphony, No. 2 “Ibérica”.

Conduted by Darrel Ang, the Violin Concerto features Ana María Valderrama as soloist. This prestigious artist, who is the first Spanish violinist to have won the Sarasate Competition, leads this work, which is not in a specific key and is an absolute tour de force of almost 45 minutes; in which Manén lays outs motifs from Spanish folklore to Post-Impressionism, through virtuoso passages filled with drama and intensity. It is interesting to note that, this work had its premiere at the Palau de la Música Catalana, in 1945, performed by the Municipal Orchestra of Barcelona, which was the forefather of The Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, and was conducted by Manén, himself.

With regard to Symphony No.2 “Ibérica”, this is a more mature work by the composer, written when his solo career was at an end. It contains military rhythms and Andalusian dance and is in four movements.

Recorded in Hall 1, Pau Casals at the L’Auditori de Barcelona during June 2018, the disc was nominated for the International Classical Music Awards in the Orchestral Music category. The prestigious awards are overseen by an international jury of specialists who represent radio and publishing from all over the world.