Born in 1916, Ginastera was an important figure of his generation in Latin American music, and a pioneer whose later work was sometimes serial, although emotionally nearer Mediterranean verismo than Viennese expressionism. As a youth, he became an expert pianist, and his output of piano music is substantial. However, it is not well represented in the catalogue, so that this recital by a compatriot—one of four devoted to the composer—is useful.
The music ranges in date over half a century, beginning with the Piezas Infantiles of 1934 and ending with the Third Piano Sonata written in 1982, a year before the composer's death, and the style is accordingly varied. Indeed, the Piezas are in an approachable idiom which may owe something to Debussy's Children's Corner. The crunchy writing in ''Little Soldiers'' is, however, typical Ginastera, and so are the consecutive sevenths in the ''Lullaby'' and the toccata-like figuration plus bitonality of the final, oddly named ''Arroz con leche'' (''Rice Pudding''). These well-written, characterful and tuneful pieces deserve to be better known to teachers.
While Ginastera's nationality comes across here, it is stronger still in pieces which have dance elements; the two sonatas, however, are more cosmopolitan in feeling and feature Ginastera's own kind of acceptable aggression, expressed in jagged rhythms and a high level of dissonance. Alberto Portugheis brings understanding to all this music, and although the recording gives some rough-ness to the piano tone, that suits much of it. This disc will reward purchasers seeking something worthwhile and not already over-represented in the catalogue.'