Search - Carlos Guastavino, Camargo Guarnieri, Alberto Ginastera :: Vai Azulão: Songs of Argentina and Brazil

Martel has richness for Latin American songs

J. S. Lowe | Montpelier, VT USA | 08/30/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In this recording of unusual South American art song repertoire, Canadian soprano Agathe Martel has a richness of sound that she uses expressively throughout. More importantly, she uses it musically, changing her tone to express the music -- at exactly the right moment! Fellow Canadian pianist Marc Bourdeau's clarity of musical ideas, sense of touch and rhythmic finesse show him to be a fine musician with an especially subtle sense of rubato. 

The songs of Argentine composer Guastavino are the "easy listening" of the album, but some are particularly beautiful. I loved the spicy harmonic language in those of the Brazilian Camargo Guarnieri. Of those by the Barizilian Alberto Ginastera, "Cancion al arbol del olvido" is a beautiful song in every way! It's very original while seeming traditional. Another Brazilian, Carlos Lopz Buchardois is very traditional, but "Oye mi llanto" is a tender and  touching lament, and Martel and Boudreau express it beautifully. The songs of Brazilian Heitor Villa-Lobos are easily the best-written. And though I like the final "Samba classica," despite its terrible text," I loved "Serenata" the most of any song on the CD. It's very much in the grand manner, and with Martel's expressiveness, it's absolutely gorgeous!

I may well wear this CD out!"