Villa-Lobos: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2

Album review

Here’s a composer whose work we’d love to hear more often, whether it’d be in concert or recorded: Villa-Lobos. Some may have forgotten he wrote, among other things, a dozen symphonies from his first steps in the music world in 1916 to his mature years in 1957. And recently, arguably the best orchestra in Brazil – Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo (São Paulo Symphony Orchestra), here led by Brazilian maestro Isaac Karabtchevsky – performed and recorded Villa Lobos’ first two symphonies: the First, "O Imprevisto" (The Unforeseen) composed in 1916 and created around 1919-20, and the Second, “Ascenção” (Ascension) composed in 1917, reviewed throughout the years and created only in 1944. The vitality of this formidable and always hungry creator can undeniably be heard in these two masterpieces, although the influence of Brazilian folklore can’t quite yet be heard; indeed these symphonies were written when Villa-Lobos used to immerse himself in Milhaud and Debussy’s work, while drawing from the teachings of d’Indy and his Cours de composition musicale (Musical Composition Course). A composer worth rediscovering without any hesitation! © SM/Qobuz