Search - Heitor Villa-Lobos, Adrian Leaper, Gran Canaria Philharmonic Orchestra :: Villa-Lobos: Choros 1-7

Works that you must listen !!!

Osvaldo Colarusso | Curitiba, Paraná Brazil | 04/17/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The "Choros" is one of the most renowned series of works by Heitor Villa Lobos. These 12 works were conceived during the most advanced period of the composer: from 1920 to 1929.The Choros are strongly influenced by Debussy, Ravel and specially by Stravinsky. But despite these influences we can feel that these compositions are the result of a very personal genius. Influenced by the neo-classical music his next series of compositions, the Bachianas Brasileiras, are much more conventional than these experimental works. I really believe that among these 12 works we can find the most extraordinary works of this outstanding musician. As a Brazilian I can really say without hesitation that I'm proud of works like that . And I'm very happy that after decades we have a new recording of the so called " Chamber Choros" ( "Chôros de Camera" as we say here in Brazil). I must say some words about the old recording that was done in the seventies in Rio de Janeiro with some of the most important musicians of the former Brazilian capital like Paulo Moura, Noel Devos, Jose Botelho and Murilo Santos. This recording appeared in CD by Chant du Monde , but has been absent from catalog for a long time . Now we have the opportunity to listen for this fantastic compositions in less idiomatic readings, but in a fantastic sound quality and with really excellent instrumentalists .

What is a "Choros"? "Choros" is a kind of improvisation , normally played at night. This is part of a urban folklore ,more specifically of the city of Rio de Janeiro, that was a very sophisticated cultural center at the beginning of the century, and has to do with a high quality of some musicians that used to play complicated operas at the Opera Theater , and just for fun , at the end of the night, in a pleasant place , they used to play together some improvisations. This is clearly the mood of works like the Choros 2, 3 , 4 and 7. Choros No 1 is a popular Choros, less sophisticated than the others. Choros No 5 is one nostalgic and impressionist piano music and the wonderful Choros No 6 is a Symphonic Phantasy about Brazilian themes. It is pure tropical , "carioca" ( that means- from Rio de Janeiro), authentic .

The musical result of this CD is so interesting that I'm very anxious to listen to a Volume 2 ,with the other 5 Choros. Performances like these rend justice to these wonderful compositions . The classical catalogue can't be deprived of this works. They are fundamental to place Villa Lobos among the most important musicians of the Twentieth Century.

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Brazilian delight

A. J. Finch | Malaysia | 06/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD can be recommended as much for its sheer variety as anything else. I imagine that few CDs contain music for such an unusual combination of instruments all written by the same composer. Villa-Lobos was clearly fascinated by the sounds produced by this kind of interaction. Until recently I was only familiar with Choros No. 1 which, together with the etudes, is well-known to guitarists. I had not expected the remaining choros to be so different and yet to share, each in its own way, the strange - to my western ears - rhythms and harmonies which reflect the melange of cultural backgrounds in Brazil. Villa-Lobos wrote 14 choros [or 16, depending on which authority is to be believed] of which only the first 12 appear to be available so far on CDs. It seems that two were lost so maybe, if they exist, two more remain to be recorded. Perhaps one of the more enterprising record companies will oblige."