Villa-Lobos: Complete Choros & Bachianas Brasileiras

The life and music of Villa-Lobos is intimately linked with the emergence of Brazil as a nation and cultural force during the first half of the 20th century. This applies especially to the two great cycles that he composed between 1920 and 1945: the 12 Choros and the 9 Bachianas Brasileiras. In the Choros the composer's stated aim was to achieve a synthesis of the various musical influences of Brazil: the popular urban music (such as the dances of European origin performed by chorões or street musicians), the music brought from Africa by slaves, and the chants and rhythms of the native Indian tribes. The Choros range from solo pieces with durations of a couple of minutes to large-scale scores for expanded symphony orchestra, sometimes comprising choir or solo instruments.

This collection also includes a performance by the Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet of Quinteto em forma de choros (a work often mentioned in connection with the Choros even if it does not form part of the cycle) as well as a separate disc containing Anders Miolin's recording of the complete music for solo guitar, much of which Villa-Lobos composed for the legendary Andres Segovia.

"The Brazilian players sound as if the music is in their blood ... and their ensemble is in no way inferior to that of any of their rivals" (Gramophone) and "a world-class ensemble providing an assured blend of lush colours, pulsating rhythms and supple phrasing" (International Record Review).

"Here's an easy call: these are the finest recordings of these works currently available... Both cycles, the Bachianas Brasileiras and the Choros, constitute two of the most original, colorful, and enjoyable collections of works by any 20th-century composer. They belong in every serious record collection, and they have never been so consistently well performed and recorded. At last, Villa-Lobos' compatriots have managed to do his quirky genius full justice. The excellent disc of solo guitar music makes a fine and thoughtful bonus, and at seven discs for the price of three, you'd have to be insane not to grab this set immediately." -Classics Today (10/10)

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Works Details

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Introduction to the Choros, for guitar & orchestra, A. 239

Performer: Fabio Zanon (Guitar)
Conductor: John Neschling
Running Time: 13 min. 43 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1929

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Chôros bis (2), for violin & cello, A. 227

Performers: Johannes Gramsch (Cello); Claudio Cruz [Violin/Conductor] (Violin)
Running Time: 8 min. 57 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1928

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Chôros no 2, for flute & clarinet, A. 197

Performers: Ovanir Buosi (Clarinet); Elizabeth Plunk (Flute)
Running Time: 2 min. 49 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1924

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Chôros no 3, for male chorus & winds, "Picapau", A. 206

Performers: Samuel Hamzem (Horn); Luciano Amaral (Horn); Marcos Pedroso (Horn); Alexandre Silvério (Bassoon); Sergio Burgani (Clarinet); Dante Yenque (Horn); Wagner Polistchuk (Trombone)
Conductor: John Neschling
Running Time: 3 min. 44 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1925

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Chôros no 10, for chorus & orchestra, "Rasga o Coraçao" (also ballet, "Jurapary"), A. 209

Conductor: John Neschling
Running Time: 13 min. 9 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1925

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Chôros no 12, for orchestra, A. 233

Conductor: John Neschling
Running Time: 37 min. 34 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1929

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Chôros no 6, for orchestra, A. 219

Conductor: John Neschling
Running Time: 25 min. 7 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1926

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Chôros no 1, for guitar, "Tipico brasileiro", A. 161

Performer: Fabio Zanon (Guitar)
Notes: Composition written: 1920.
Running Time: 5 min. 19 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1920

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Chôros no 8, for 2 pianos & orchestra, A. 208

Performers: Ilaan Rechtman (Piano); Linda Bustani (Piano)
Conductor: John Neschling
Running Time: 20 min. 17 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1925

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Chôros no 4, for 3 horns & trombone, A. 218

Performers: Ozéas Arantes (Horn); Samuel Hamzem (Horn); Darrin Milling (Bass Trombone); Dante Yenque (Horn)
Running Time: 5 min. 41 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1926

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Chôros no 9, for orchestra, A. 232

Conductor: John Neschling
Running Time: 24 min. 51 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1929

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Chôros no 11, for piano & orchestra, A. 228

Performer: Cristina Ortiz (Piano)
Conductor: John Neschling
Running Time: 63 min. 7 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Form: Concerto
Written: 1928

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Chôros no 5, for piano, "Alma brasiliera", A. 207

Performer: Cristina Ortiz (Piano)
Running Time: 5 min. 8 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1925

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Chôros no 7, for flute, oboe, clarinet, sax, bassoon, violin, cello & off-stage gong, "Setemino", A

Performers: Bulent Evcil (Flute); Armando Yamada (Tamtam); Claudio Cruz [Violin/Conductor] (Violin); Nailor Azevedo (Tamtam); Arcadio Minczuk (Oboe); Jose Linarez (Bassoon); Sergio Burgani (Clarinet); Alceu Reis (Cello)
Running Time: 9 min. 50 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1923

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Bachiana brasileira no 5 for Soprano and 8 Cellos

Performers: Antonio Meneses (Cello); Donna Brown (Soprano)
Conductor: Roberto Minczuk
Running Time: 11 min. 17 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1938-1945

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Bachianas brasileiras no 4

Performer: Jean Steuerman (Piano)
Running Time: 19 min. 2 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1930-1941

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Bachiana brasileira no 6 for Flute and Bassoon

Performers: Sato Moughalian (Flute); Alexandre Silvério (Bassoon)
Notes: Sala Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil (02/2005); Sala Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil (08/2004)
Running Time: 9 min. 17 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Form: Vocal
Written: 1938

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Bachiana brasileira no 1 for 8 Cellos

Performer: Antonio Meneses (Cello)
Conductor: Roberto Minczuk
Running Time: 19 min. 1 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1930

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Bachiana brasileira no 2 for Orchestra

Conductor: Roberto Minczuk
Running Time: 22 min. 36 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1930

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Bachianas Brasileiras no 3, for piano & orchestra, A. 388

Performer: Jean Steuerman (Piano)
Conductor: Roberto Minczuk
Running Time: 28 min. 6 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Form: Concerto
Written: 1938

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Bachianas Brasileiras no 4, for piano & orchestra, A. 424

Conductor: Roberto Minczuk
Running Time: 19 min. 8 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Form: Concerto
Written: 1941

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Bachianas Brasileiras no 7, for orchestra, A. 432

Conductor: Roberto Minczuk
Running Time: 26 min. 13 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1942

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Bachianas Brasileiras no 9, for chorus (or string orchestra), A. 449

Conductor: Roberto Minczuk
Running Time: 17 min. 6 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1945

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Bachianas Brasileiras no 8, for orchestra, A. 444

Conductor: Roberto Minczuk
Running Time: 23 min. 27 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1944

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Quinteto em forma de Chôros, W 231

Ensemble: Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet
Running Time: 10 min. 15 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1928

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Prelúdios (5), for guitar, A. 419

Performer: Anders Miolin (Guitar)
Running Time: 17 min. 23 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1940

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Suite populaire brésilienne (5), for guitar (Brazilian Folk Suite), A. 020

Performer: Anders Miolin (Guitar)
Notes: Composition written: 1908-12.
Running Time: 19 min. 36 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1908-1912

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Estudios (12), etudes for guitar, A. 235

Performer: Anders Miolin (Guitar)
Running Time: 32 min. 34 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1929

Villa-Lobos, Heitor : Chôros no 1, for guitar, "Tipico brasileiro", A. 161

Performer: Anders Miolin (Guitar)
Notes: Composition written: 1920.
Running Time: 5 min. 19 sec.
Period Time: Modern
Written: 1920

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