Heitor Villa-Lobos - String Quartets (Cuarteto Latinoamericano)

Information

Composer: Heitor Villa-Lobos

• String Quartets Nos. 1-17 (6 CDs)

Cuarteto Latinoamericano

    Saúl Bitrán, violin

    Arón Bitrán, violin

    Javier Montiel, viola

    Alvaro Bitrán, cello

Date: 2004

Label: Brilliant Classics

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Review

ARTISTIC QUALITY: 10 / SOUND QUALITY: 10

Originally released on Dorian, these fine performances constitute the only complete cycle currently available of the 17 string quartets that pepper Villa-Lobos’ entire career. The suite-like, five-movement No. 1, with its adorable “like a jumping bean” finale, is deceptive. Most of these are resoundingly neo-classical works full of acerbic harmonies and typically busy counterpoint, with few overtly nationalistic elements. Of course they sound just like Villa-Lobos, who was himself something of a “nationalistic element” when you come right down to it. The series reaches its culmination in the large works composed around the time of the Second World War, Nos. 7-11, which really do constitute landmark 20th century contributions to the form on a par with those of Shostakovich and Bartók.

For the most part, this is tough and serious music, and it receives tough and serious performances from the Cuarteto Latinoamericano, whose rhythmic verve and slightly astringent timbre works beautifully in clarifying the dense thicket of the composer’s effusive counterpoint. Occasionally the very intensity of both music and performance becomes a bit overbearing, but then no one is suggesting that you listen to 17 quartets in a row. Overall, both the works themselves and these performances remain astonishingly consistent in quality. Sonically you couldn’t ask for better. At budget price, this is a very attractive proposition for anyone who fancies either the composer or chamber music in general. [9/24/2004]

-- David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

More reviews:
https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/villa-lobos-string-quartets-complete-mr0002131786

https://artmusiclounge.wordpress.com/2016/06/02/villa-lobos-quartet-reissue-a-must-have/

https://www.amazon.com/Villa-Lobos-String-Quartets-Heitor/dp/B00020Q2ZU

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Heitor Villa-Lobos (March 5, 1887 – November 17, 1959) was a Brazilian composer, conductor, cellist, and classical guitarist. Described as "the single most significant creative figure in 20th-century Brazilian art music", Villa-Lobos has become the best-known South American composer of all time. A prolific composer, he wrote numerous orchestral, chamber, instrumental and vocal works, totaling over 2,000 works by his death in 1959. His music was influenced by both Brazilian folk music and stylistic elements from the European classical tradition, and is well represented on the world's recital and concert stages and on compact disc.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heitor_Villa-Lobos

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 Founded in Mexico in 1982, the Cuarteto Latinoamericano has toured extensively throughout Europe, North and South America, Israel, China, Japan, and New Zealand. They have premiered over a hundred works written for them, and they continue to introduce new and neglected composers to the genre. Winners of two Latin Grammy Award for Best Classical Album, they have also been awarded the Diapason d'Or and three "Most Adventurous Programming" Awards from Chamber Music America/ASCAP. They have recorded more than 100 CDs, including nearly the entire Latin American repertoire for the string quartet.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuarteto_Latinoamericano

https://www.cuartetolatinoamericano.com/2018/index.php

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