Ending with the First

 

I am kind of glad I began this Villa-Lobos Chôros series with the last volume.

Chôros 11 is essentially a mammoth piano concerto, and listening to its 60+ minutes is daunting.

The work is less exotic than it is a grand, Romantic gesture, with soaring tunes and lush harmonies galore. A comparison to Rachmaninov might be going to far, but that light mixed with Brazilian and modernist elements is what I hear.

The piece is a gas to listen to, but I think my favorite is the darker middle section, where it sounds as if a murder-mystery  lurks around every corner. The upbeat ending is a hoot too!

Brazilian pianist Cristina Ortiz sticks around for the short Chôros 5 for piano solo, and it continues in high spirits. I sense Villa-Lobos not only incorporated native musical influences, but also jazz, for the syncopations sound of both worlds.

Chôros 7 is a little knottier, but even the wind/string septet this work is written for relinquishes into a satisfying musical groove. Stravinsky and Poulenc come to mind listening to this, and the addition of tam-tam adds even more color.

Listen on YouTube

Works
Chôros 11 (62.52)
Chôros 5 (5.02)
Chôros 7 'Settimino' (9.15)

Soloists
Cristina Ortiz, piano

Performers
São Paulo Symphony Orchestra
John Neschling, conductor

Label: BIS
Year: 2008
Total Timing: 78.06

This outing is a lot of fun, but I think discovering the later BIS volumes first is a better lead-in to the sprawling Chôros 11.

It is good to hear Cristina Ortiz in Villa-Lobos again too.

Find more Villa-Lobos recordings HERE!