Search - Darius Milhaud, Madeleine Milhaud, Alexandre Tharaud :: Milhaud: Piano Music / Madeleine Milhaud, Alexandre Tharaud

Saudades do Brazil, based on the music Milhaud heard when he lived in Brazil for two years, is one of his most entertaining pieces, whether you hear it in its piano or orchestral versions. Alexandre Tharaud has the rhythms down right and takes us on a very lively musical journey. Both the other pieces, for narrator and piano, are on a distinctly lower level of inspiration, which is never surprising with Milhaud since he wrote so much music. The presence of the composer's widow (reading her parts in English) adds obvious authenticity to this project, but I don't think anything except Saudades will prove compelling for most listeners. --Leslie Gerber