Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasilieras 2, 5 (with los Angeles), 6, 9 - HMV ALP 1603

Jacket EX / Vinyl VG+ / UK pressing

This beautiful LP from His Master’s Voice (ALP 1603, English EMI pressing, red/gold label, mono only – no stereo edition exists, laminated flipback jacket) features composer Heitor Villa-Lobos conducting l’Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Francaise in his own Bachianas Brasilieras Nos. 2, 5, 6, and 9 – all recorded at the Salle de la Mutualité, Paris, in 1956 and 1957.

The exact details are as follows:

Bachianas Brasilieras No. 2 for Orchestra

            Preludio – The Son of the Countryman

            Aria – The Song of Our Country

            Dansa

            Toccata – The Little Train of Caipira

(rec. in May 1956)

Bachianas Brasilieras No. 5 for Soprano and 8 Cellos

            Victoria de los Angeles, soprano

            Fernand Benedetti, cello soloist

(rec. in June 1957)

Bachianas Brasilieras No. 6 for Flute and Bassoon

            Fernand Dufrène, flute

            René Plessier, bassoon

(rec. in May 1956)

Bachianas Brasilieras No. 9 for String Orchestra

(rec. in May 1956)

Of EMI’s CD re-issue of these performances in its historical Références series, the critics of The Gramophone wrote:

"In 1958, when three of these works were issued here, there had been no previous complete recordings of Nos. 2 and 9—respectively the least and most 'Bachian' of Villa-Lobos's so-disant fusions of Brazilian folk idiom with the spirit of his revered Bach—but No. 5 was already on its way to becoming a popular favourite. (No. I had appeared six years earlier in the memorable Capitol version conducted by Werner Janssen.) The presence of the composer as conductor lends these performances some authority as regards character, tempo, correct notes (never very easy to establish in his chaotic scores). The most appealing of these, because of the seductive singing of Victoria de los Angeles in her prime, is No. 5...her cantilena in the first movement and, in the second, her rapid articulation and bird-like darting are delightful.

“In this performance of No. 2...the famous "Little train" which forms its last movement is still irresistible (the composer dwelling lovingly on that last impracticable harmonic which so vividly suggests the dying wheeze of the battered old locomotive)."

There are superb liner notes on the reverse side of the jacket by Heitor Villa-Lobos himself, printed in English only. The lovely cover art is uncredited, alas.

CONDITION – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

The gradations of condition I use are as follows: MINT, Near-Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.

The condition of the jacket is EXCELLENT. There is minor edgewear and slight creasing, but really that is all. There are no bends, seamsplits, or owners' markings, and the album remains solid, bright, glossy, and highly attractive – overall, an excellent collector's copy.

The condition of the LP is VERY GOOD+. Although there are around 5 soft tics on Side 1, playback is otherwise superb. If you must have a flawless or NM copy, then please do not buy this LP. Overall, this rates as a very good to excellent collector's copy.