Neschling: Villa-Lobos – Complete Choros & Bachianas Brasileiras (7 CD FLAC)

Performer: Fabio Zanon, Cristina Ortiz, Jean Louis Steuerman, Donna Brown, Nigel Shore, Anders Miolin, Claudio Cruz, Johannes Gramsch, Elizabeth Plunk, Ovanir Buosi, Alexandre Silverio, Dante Yenque, Samuel Hamzem, Sergio Burgani, Marcos Pedroso, Wagner Polistchuck, Luciano Amaral, Linda Bustani, Ilan Rechtman, Ozeas Arantes, Darrin Coleman Milling, São Paulo Symphony Chorus
Orchestra: São Paulo Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: John Neschling, Roberto Minczuk
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 7
Format: FLAC (image+cue)
Label: Bis
Catalogue: BISCD1830/32
Release: 2009
Size: 2.09 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

Disc: 1
01. Introduction to the Choros, for guitar & orchestra, A. 239
02. Chôros bis (2), for violin & cello, A. 227: 1. Moderé
03. Chôros bis (2), for violin & cello, A. 227: 2. Lent – Moins – Lent
04. Chôros No. 2, for flute & clarinet, A. 197
05. Chôros No. 3, for male chorus & winds, ‘Picapau’, A. 206
06. Chôros No. 10, for chorus & orchestra, ‘Rasga o Coraçao’ (also ballet, ‘Jurapary’), A. 209
07. Chôros No. 12, for orchestra, A. 233

Disc: 2
01. Chôros No. 6, for orchestra, A. 219
02. Chôros No. 1, for guitar, ‘Tipico brasileiro’, A. 161
03. Chôros No. 8, for 2 pianos & orchestra, A. 208
04. Chôros No. 4, for 3 horns & trombone, A. 218
05. Chôros No. 9, for orchestra, A. 232

Disc: 3
01. Chôros No. 11, for piano & orchestra, A. 228: Allegro preciso ma non troppo (attacca)
02. Chôros No. 11, for piano & orchestra, A. 228: Adagio (attacca)
03. Chôros No. 11, for piano & orchestra, A. 228: Allegro moderato
04. Chôros No. 5, for piano, ‘Alma brasiliera’, A. 207
05. Chôros No. 7, for flute, oboe, clarinet, sax, bassoon, violin, cello & off-stage gong, ‘Setemino’, A. 199

Disc: 4
01. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5, for voice & 8 cellos, A. 389: 1. Ária (Cantilena)
02. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5, for voice & 8 cellos, A. 389: 2. Dança (Martelo)
03. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4, for piano, A. 264: 1. Prelúdio (Introdução)
04. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4, for piano, A. 264: 2. Coral (Canto do sertão)
05. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4, for piano, A. 264: 3. Ária (Cantiga)
06. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4, for piano, A. 264: 4. Dança (Miudinho)
07. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 6, for flute & bassoon, A. 392: 1. Ária (Choro)
08. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 6, for flute & bassoon, A. 392: 2. Fantasia
09. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 1, for 8 cellos, A. 246: 1. Introdução (Embolada)
10. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 1, for 8 cellos, A. 246: 2. Prelúdio (Modinha)
11. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 1, for 8 cellos, A. 246: 3. Fuga (Conversa)

Disc: 5
01. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 2, for orchestra, A. 247: 1. Prelúdio (O canto do capadócio)
02. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 2, for orchestra, A. 247: 2. Ária (O canto da nossa terra)
03. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 2, for orchestra, A. 247: 3. Dança (Lembrança do sertão)
04. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 2, for orchestra, A. 247: 4. Toccata (O trenzinho do caipira)
05. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 3, for piano & orchestra, A. 388: 1. Prelúdio (Ponteio)
06. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 3, for piano & orchestra, A. 388: 2. Fantasia (Devaneio)
07. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 3, for piano & orchestra, A. 388: 3. Ária (Modinha)
08. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 3, for piano & orchestra, A. 388: 4. Toccata (Picapau)
09. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4, for piano & orchestra, A. 424: 1. Prelúdio (Introdução)
10. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4, for piano & orchestra, A. 424: 2. Coral (Canto do sertão)
11. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4, for piano & orchestra, A. 424: 3. Ária (Cantiga)
12. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4, for piano & orchestra, A. 424: 4. Dança (Miudinho)

Disc: 6
01. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 7, for orchestra, A. 432: 1. Prelúdio (Ponteio)
02. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 7, for orchestra, A. 432: 2. Giga (Quadrilha caipira)
03. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 7, for orchestra, A. 432: 3. Toccata (Desafio)
04. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 7, for orchestra, A. 432: 4. Fuga (Conversa)
05. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 9, for chorus (or string orchestra), A. 449: 1. Prelúdio
06. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 9, for chorus (or string orchestra), A. 449: 2. Fuga
07. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 9, for chorus (or string orchestra), A. 449: 1. Prelúdio
08. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 9, for chorus (or string orchestra), A. 449: 2. Fuga
09. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 8, for orchestra, A. 444: 1. Prelúdio
10. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 8, for orchestra, A. 444: 2. Ária (Modinha)
11. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 8, for orchestra, A. 444: 3. Toccata (Catira batida)
12. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 8, for orchestra, A. 444: 4. Fuga
13. Quinteto em forme de choros, for flute, oboe, clarinet, English horn (or French horn) & bassoon, A. 231

Disc: 7
01. Prelúdios (5), for guitar, A. 419: 1. Andantino expressivo. Melodia lírica: Homenagem ao sertanejo brasileiro
02. Prelúdios (5), for guitar, A. 419: 2. Andantino. Melodia capadócia – Melodia capoeira: Homenagem ao malandro carioca
03. Prelúdios (5), for guitar, A. 419: 3. Andante. Homenagem a Bach (Homage to Bach)
04. Prelúdios (5), for guitar, A. 419: 4. Lento. Homenagem ao índio brasileiro (Homage to the Brazilian Indian)
05. Prelúdios (5), for guitar, A. 419: 5. Poco animato. Homenagem à vida social
06. Suite populaire brésilienne (5), for guitar (Brazilian Folk Suite), A. 020: Mazurka-choro
07. Suite populaire brésilienne (5), for guitar (Brazilian Folk Suite), A. 020: Schottish-choro
08. Suite populaire brésilienne (5), for guitar (Brazilian Folk Suite), A. 020: Valsa-choro
09. Suite populaire brésilienne (5), for guitar (Brazilian Folk Suite), A. 020: Gavota-choro
10. Suite populaire brésilienne (5), for guitar (Brazilian Folk Suite), A. 020: Chorinho
11. Estudios (12), etudes for guitar, A. 235: 1. Allegro non troppo
12. Estudios (12), etudes for guitar, A. 235: 2. Allegro
13. Estudios (12), etudes for guitar, A. 235: 3. Allegro moderato
14. Estudios (12), etudes for guitar, A. 235: 4. Andante
15. Estudios (12), etudes for guitar, A. 235: 5. Andantino
16. Estudios (12), etudes for guitar, A. 235: 6. Poco allegro
17. Estudios (12), etudes for guitar, A. 235: 7. Très animé
18. Estudios (12), etudes for guitar, A. 235: 8. Modéré
19. Estudios (12), etudes for guitar, A. 235: 9. Très peu animé
20. Estudios (12), etudes for guitar, A. 235: 10. Très animé
21. Estudios (12), etudes for guitar, A. 235: 11. Lent
22. Estudios (12), etudes for guitar, A. 235: 12. Animé
23. Chôros No. 1, for guitar, ‘Tipico brasileiro’, A. 161

The life and music of Villa-Lobos is intimately linked with the emergence of Brazil as a nation and cultural force during the first half of the 20th century. This applies especially to the two great cycles that he composed between 1920 and 1945: the 12 Choros and the 9 Bachianas Brasileiras. In the Choros the composer’s stated aim was to achieve a synthesis of the various musical influences of Brazil: the popular urban music (such as the dances of European origin performed by chorões or street musicians), the music brought from Africa by slaves, and the chants and rhythms of the native Indian tribes. The Choros range from solo pieces with durations of a couple of minutes to large-scale scores for expanded symphony orchestra, sometimes comprising choir or solo instruments.


This collection also includes a performance by the Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet of Quinteto em forma de choros (a work often mentioned in connection with the Choros even if it does not form part of the cycle) as well as a separate disc containing Anders Miolin’s recording of the complete music for solo guitar, much of which Villa-Lobos composed for the legendary Andres Segovia.


“The Brazilian players sound as if the music is in their blood … and their ensemble is in no way inferior to that of any of their rivals” (Gramophone) and “a world-class ensemble providing an assured blend of lush colours, pulsating rhythms and supple phrasing” (International Record Review).