Our Recording of the Month features Don Quixote, a colourful yet neglected ballet score from Spanish composer Roberto Gerhard (Chandos CHAN20268). 

Born in 1896, Gerhard was taught to express his Catalan roots by Felipe Pedrell (who also taught Granados and Falla), and by Schoenberg, who turned him into a Modernist. Relocating to England to escape the Spanish Civil War, he became a leading avant-garde composer, but all the music recorded here is from his highly approachable middle period.

Gerhard’s Cervantes-themed ballet premiered at Sadler’s Wells in 1950, with Robert Helpmann in the title role. “Don Quixote is a masterpiece; one of the best ballet scores of the 20th century,” writes Phillip Scott in a five-star rave. “The character, drama and authentic Catalan flavour of Gerhard’s music make the more popular ballet by Minkus sound like hack work.”

Scott equally enjoys the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Juanjo Mena. “The new recording sweeps an under-populated board, both in its spectacular, well-balanced sound and performance.”

The other works on the disc are Pedrelliana, a homage to Gerhard’s teacher that channels Falla, and Alegrías, a four-movement dance suite referencing flamenco. “As expected, it is bright and rhythmic but grounded; by no means superficial...