Spanish Romanticism developed an identity of its own in Galicia, clearly defined in comparison with the peculiarities of other regions. The happy convergence there in the mid-nineteenth century of an illustrious group of poets and composers (headed by Rosalía de Castro and Marcial del Adalid) led to the birth of a generation of intellectuals and artists who would take Galician language as a banner by which to claim a cultural heritage of extraordinary richness. A significant, albeit necessarily brief part of that romantic Galician intellectual flowering can be found on this CD. With the suggestive title of Lela (the first of the pieces recorded) the Gaos Orchestra offers a splendid compilation of Galician songs written by some of the most emblematic of the region’s romantic musicians – Juan Montes, Pascual Veiga or Juan José Castro – on texts by Rosalía Rodríguez, Castelao or Fernán-Vello.

To the excellent work of recuperation must be added the fine conducting of Fernando Briones and, most particularly, the participation of the Chilean soprano Cristina Gallardo-Domãs, especially engaging with the beauty of her timbre in some of the most emotive pieces in the recording.