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Heitor VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959) Wind Music Chôro No.2 for flute and clarinet Duo for oboe and bassoon Bachiana Brasileiras No.6 for flute and bassoon Trio for oboe, clarinet and bassoon Quartet for grande flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon Quintet (en forme de Chôro) for flute, oboe, clarinet. Cor anglais and bassoon Andrea Griminelli (flute) Pietro Borgonovo (oboe) Michele Carulli (clarinet) Rino Vernizzi (bassoon) Francesco Pomarico (cor anglais) Recorded Chiesa della Misericordia, Turin, February 1987 ARTS 47200-2 [69.16]

Fine performances, these, by some first rate Italian wind players. Not only are they flexible and responsive but they are tonally attractive as well. It makes for a most successful disc. Supporting evidence? The fruity chalumeau clarinet in Chôro No.2 for one, or the deadpan humour of incongruous timbres (oboe and bassoon) in the Duo. Here the quizzically shadowing bassoon of Rino Vernizzi wears the taciturn innocence of a veritable Monsieur Hulot. How well he and Pietro Borgonovo accommodate the slower, more lyric passages, never falling into the trap of too great a slowing down. These are tricky works to balance and the studio engineers have done a good job in, say, Bachiana Brasileiras No.6 for flute and bassoon where the former decorates the latter’s Aria with balletic grace. The Trio witness some adept blending of timbres, and some clever oppositional work – Villa-Lobos pits the oboe for a stretch against unison clarinet and bassoon but brings off such moments of colour and strength with consistent success. The slow movement is languid with little dance episodes prominent but it’s perhaps the Quartet that sees the most arresting writing here. The opening motifs, so powerful and also teasing embrace Bachian tints and a popular dance rhythm – all fused with adroit logic and warmth. And there’s plenty of "space" in the finale which, though marked Allegro molto Vivace, has room to breathe and to phrase freely. The disc ends with the sepia coloured Quintet – its opening darkening flourish is deceptive as this lyrical and warm-hearted piece is deliciously harmonised and full of balance and nuance. The recording levels are well nigh perfect and the notes are helpful. The recording was made back in 1987 but still sounds good. I won’t single out any of the players because they’re all excellent and they do real justice to Villa-Lobos. A fine disc. Jonathan Woolf Advertising Rates Visitor stats MusicWeb International has over 40,000 Classical CD reviews on offer Discs received Having a problem Donating? Gerard Hoffnung Concerts & The Bricklayer Story   New Releases New Releases   MusicWeb sells the Polish catalogue CDAccord £10.50 post free W-W MusicWeb sells the Arcodiva catalogue £12.00 post free W-W £11.75 post-free world- wide MusicWeb can now offer you discs from the following catalogues: Prices include postage [Acte Préalable £13.50] [Arcodiva £12.00] [Avie from £6.25] [British Music Society £12.00] [CDACCORD from £13.50 ] [ClassicO £12.50] [Hallé from £11] [Heritage £10] [Hortus £14.99 ] [Lyrita ONLY £11.75 ] [Nimbus Special prices] [Northern Flowers £13.50] [REDCLIFFE £11 ] [Sheva £11] [Tactus £11.50 ] [Talent from £12.00 ] [Toccata Classics £10.50 ] Musicweb Special Offers Monthly Best Buys     Google Ads - for information about privacy matters, click here.  Amazon Musicweb International is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

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