The ‘romantic avant-gardism’ of Barcelona-born Leonardo Balada pairs complex techniques with a very direct emotional impact. These characteristics have often been employed in exploring the impact of historical events, none more so than the wars of the 20th century. Symphony No. 6 ‘Symphony of Sorrows’ (Dedicated to the Innocent Victims of the Spanish Civil War) embeds traditional melodic ideas in a coruscating single-movement exploration of the tragedies of war. The Steel Symphony reflects the sonorities – in an abstract, non-programmatic way – of Pittsburgh’s steel foundries, while the Concerto for Three Cellos, inspired by Germany’s recovery after two catastrophic world wars, combines complex techniques in a vivid work of almost surrealistic transformations.