Complete Villa-Lobos string quartets box

[Ron S]

The vaunted box set of the complete Villa-Lobos string quartets as played by the Cuarteto Latinoamericano, which was originally released by Dorian and then reissued by Brilliant Classics, has just been reissued again by Dorian (and distributed by Naxos). But here's the kicker: this time it includes a bonus DVD (don't know what's on it).

And I saved the best for last. Because it's distributed by Naxos, Naxos USA's Amazon Marketplace presence--otherwise known as Classical Music Superstore--is currently selling this 7-disc set brand-new for only $16.95:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00...p;condition=new

I swear I have no connection with these guys. They just happen to be running some great deals on some stuff I was looking to pick up.

Edited July 22, 2009 by Ron S

[DTMX]

It's well worth it, even at the original boxset's price (which is what I paid a while back ).

[Spontooneous]

I've been trying to round up the individual volumes for a long time. Now I don't have to.

[Ron S]

Here's more about the new reissue, including a Podcast about it (that you can also listen to on the web site):

http://blog.naxos.com/2009/07/14/podcast-h...of-villa-lobos/

Also, if you click on "Album details . . ." on that page, the Naxos Direct (Naxos USA's online site) pops up with a price of $32 for the box, while that same entity's Amazon Marketplace operation is selling it for $17!

Edited July 23, 2009 by Ron S

[jazz1]

Thanks for the tip, I placed my order.

The podcast was great and the Dorian recording sounds good.

[greggery peccary]

Yes,

Thanks for the tip on this. I also ordered it and I have to say that I'm impressed with how quickly I received it.

They are an outfit that I hope to use again.

I'm looking forward to hearing about some more great chamber music buys!

[Teasing the Korean]

I have a fair amount of Villa Lobos buy I'm not familiar with the string quartets. How do they compare to his orchestral or other chamber music? Can they be described stylistically?

[Ron S]

I have a fair amount of Villa Lobos buy I'm not familiar with the string quartets. How do they compare to his orchestral or other chamber music? Can they be described stylistically?

Lots of samples from the same recordings (in their Brilliant Classics incarnation) here:

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=43:120959

Also, for what it's worth, a review that is more favorable than the one on the AMG page:

http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=8137

Edited August 2, 2009 by Ron S

[MomsMobley]

great set, great composer; Villa-Lobos probably thee greatest, most underrated 20th c. composer of them all... funny to realize, after the fact, what a HUGE influence Villa-Lobos was on Messiaen also.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfRanER4Q4E

[A Lark Ascending]

I'm off to London again next Saturday for a 'total immersion' in Villa-Lobos:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/r2xzp6

There was an item on BBC Radio 3's 'Music Matters' yesterday where John Williams (the guitar one) was not very complimentary about his guitar pieces. Said that from a guitarist point of view they were a bit obvious*. And he was downright scathing about the concerto.

Never mind. I like them. Where I find Villa-Lobos hard going is in the piano concerto-concertante area. He seems to go all 19thC. Need to listen more. Maybe next week will help.

(* A bit rich from a chap responsible for my No. 1 Room 101 record - his version of the Deer Hunter tune with Cleo Laine singing 'He was Beautiful' in that arch way she adopts when she's doing 'culture'. I'd rather be locked in a circle of hell with 'Feelings' for eternity than hear that again.)

Edited March 2, 2014 by A Lark Ascending

[David Ayers]

I was supposed to be going to VL (evening only) but I'm crocked (football, achilles) so it's out.

Pity because VL is a composer I *only* want to hear in performance, little interested otherwise. Pity about the achilles too I suppose.

[A Lark Ascending]

That is a pity. We could have had a punch-up over Weinberg by the fountain.

(I am kidding - I've never had a punch-up in my life; especially with people who get football injuries!)

***************

I feel about Villa-Lobos the same way I feel about Arnold Bax. I'm never totally convinced by him but there are lots of wonderful moments I would not want to be without. Celtic Twilight, Amazonian rainforest - not much to choose between them.

A couple of weeks back I was listening to 'Forest of the Amazon' and, though enjoying much of it, found some pieces a bit Disney. Found out subsequently that it began life as the soundtrack to an MGM musical; most of the music was rejected so it got rearranged into the larger piece. If I still bought CDs I'd probably have read this on the sleeve notes.

***********************

A bit later...just been playing the first 2 piano concertos. Much more enjoyable than I remembered them. Yes, very Rachmaninov in places (not to mention 'Warsaw Concerto'!) but recognisably Villa-Lobos.

Edited March 2, 2014 by A Lark Ascending

[7/4]

I have that box of string qts. Missed this thread the first time around.

[ejp626]

I'm almost certain that I have this as well, but the Brilliant version sans the DVD.