Villa-Lobos Anyone?

[Maestro267]

What an imagination for chamber ensembles Villa-Lobos has! It really feels like the 20-odd year gap that splits his symphony cycle almost down the middle produced some of his most inventive music.

[Iota]

Not sure how many official recordings of Villa-Lobos's magical and unique Quarteto simbólico for flute, alto saxophone, harp, celesta and female voices exist, but I just stumbled upon this recording and it's so cool. I was taken to a fantasy realm by the pristine sonorities of all the performers involved. Singularly beautiful.

I must check that out. As it happens I was listening to his Sexteto místico for flute, oboe, saxophone, celesta, guitar, harp yesterday for the first time, which is also enchanting and a gorgeous ensemble of instruments. The recording was this -

[Karl Henning]

Not sure how many official recordings of Villa-Lobos's magical and unique Quarteto simbólico for flute, alto saxophone, harp, celesta and female voices exist, but I just stumbled upon this recording and it's so cool. I was taken to a fantasy realm by the pristine sonorities of all the performers involved. Singularly beautiful.

Thanks for the tip, Cesar!

[Symphonic Addict]

I must check that out. As it happens I was listening to his Sexteto místico for flute, oboe, saxophone, celesta, guitar, harp yesterday for the first time, which is also enchanting and a gorgeous ensemble of instruments. The recording was this -

A great work indeed, I'm very fond of that piece too. His Quinteto instrumental for flute, harp and string trio is another peach.

[Symphonic Addict]

Thanks for the tip, Cesar!

My pleasure, Karl. I hope you have enjoyed it as well.

[Karl Henning]

My pleasure, Karl. I hope you have enjoyed it as well.

Very nice!

[lordlance]

Reheard the Fourth Symphony. It's good stuff. No surprise that I would like a symphony called Victory 




AFAIK there are three recordings of the Fourth. Anyone have a favorite? 

[DavidW]

AFAIK there are three recordings of the Fourth. Anyone have a favorite?

But I've only heard 2 of the 3. Didn't know there was a third.

[ritter]

Not that I'm the greatest fan of Villa-Lobos (I do enjoy some Bachianas and Chôros, but dislike the string quartets and find Floresta do Amazonas simply bizarre: ), but when I travel to Paris, I sometimes --most recently, at the beginning of January to attend the concerts that kicked off the Boulez centennial celebrations-- stay at the Hotel Bedford in the Rue de l'Arcade (behind the Madeleine in the 8ème), and this was Villa-Lobos' European base from 1952 until his death in 1959.



The hotel has a strong Brazilian connection, anyway, as Emperor Pedro II lived their in exile in the late 19th century. There are also other musical connections: according to the hotel's website, Saint-Saëns, Fauré, Horsowski, Menuhin and Suk wre also guests at one point or another.

[Florestan]

The pompous last line is so typically French... 

[Christo]

The pompous last line is so typically French... 

On closer reading possibly something like: Pas un véritable Maître Français, bien sûr, mais d'une Grande Importance pour un Peuple Primitif quelque part en Amazonie.