Like fine wine and expensive cheese, masterful music also gets better with age. So it was for the TCU Symphony Orchestra and conductor Germán Gutiérrez, who learned this winter that they had won the prestigious Carlos Gardel Music Award in Argentina for a compact disc they recorded more than three years ago.

“TCU Symphony/Opus Cuatro,” featuring noted South American vocal quartet Opus Cuatro, captured the category Best Alternative Folklore Album. Announced in Buenos Aires in November, the distinction is considered the Latin equivalent to a Grammy Award.

“We’re incredibly honored to be recognized for our music internationally,” said Gutiérrez, director of orchestral studies since 1996.

Amazingly, the recording sessions for the CD were done in 2009 when Opus Cuatro’s Alberto Hassan (first tenor), Marcelo Balsells (second tenor), Hernando Irahola (baritone) and Federico Galiana (bass) were in Fort Worth for the School of Music’s Latin American Music Festival.

Between performances, the foursome took to the stage at Ed Landreth Auditorium with the TCU Symphony Orchestra to play the music of Latin American composers Piazzolla, Lara, Yupanqui, Granda, Parra, Mejia and others.

“Our concept was to showcase our 75-member orchestra by wrapping Opus Cuatro’s Latin American folk music in a very elegant setting,” Gutiérrez said.

All parties agreed to waive costs in order to produce a disc that each could use in whatever way they saw fit. Eventually, it found its way into the hands of Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas (CAPIF), which represents the country’s music industry.

Gutiérrez and Opus Cuatro accepted the award on television in December.
To purchase a compact disc:
Contact k.minatra@tcu.edu or call 817-257-7341.