25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Of importance equal to Bartok and Shostakovich, December 21, 2004
This review is from: Villa-Lobos: Complete String Quartets (Box) (Audio CD)
Heitor Villa-Lobos produced a "profusion of music in abundance" - to coin a possible non-sequitur. Although not generally thought of as a composer of symphonies or string quartets, the fact remains that there are 12 symphonies and 17 string quartets. And they are all of them major works of primary importance. Now that the 20th century is behind us and a more thoughtful evaluation of the entire period can be undertaken, quite a number of composers will doubtless float to the top. Villa-Lobos most certainly is one of these.
The 17 string quartets, taken as a whole, and written over the entire course of Villa-Lobos' career are every bit as important as the 6 of Bartok, or the 15 of Shostakovich. And, when it comes to major string quartet composers of the 20th century, we must also include Darius Milhaud, with 18, and Vagn Holmboe with at least 21 quartets.
The Villa-Lobos set are as varied as is the rest of his enormous output. But the consistency of the set is one of its most remarkable characteristics. Villa-Lobos, being a string player, exploits every device known to the string player's craft. To cite but one example, having been both a 'Cellist and a guitar player, there are whole sections in these quartets where the ensemble is made to sound like an enormous guitar, complete with left and right pizzicati, fingered and unfingered, too. These are virtuoso pieces, intellectually sharp, dramatic, sentimental, humorous and vigorous in turn. In short, a major addition to the quartet literature.
The performances here by The Cuarteto Latinamericano are absolutely first rate, especially given the difficulty of much of the music. The term "difficulty" here refers to technical issues, not the "style" of the music which, from today's vantage point, is all quite easily digested! The recorded values are excellent, and the Dorian recordings, released here under the Brilliant Classics label, are first rate.
Absolutely recommended without reservation, and a treat for ears and the brains that go with them!
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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
WOW!, April 6, 2005
This review is from: Villa-Lobos: Complete String Quartets (Box) (Audio CD)
Close to be the best $30 I ever spent on anything. Everything about this collection is first rate. The quartets themselves are a genuine surprise. If you like quartets you'll love these; if you're not a big chamber music fan you might get to be after hearing them. This is tuneful, engaging, and highly inventive stuff. I'd almost say his reputation as a composer (which has always been a bit unstable--didn't Stravinsky once say "I don't like it...it must be by Villa Lobos") should be based on these pieces rather than the more familiar orchestral and vocal works.
Performances are dazzling and full of enthusiasm, sound quality is perfect. What a thing this be!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent performances, great music, and a bargain!, April 4, 2008
This review is from: Villa-Lobos: Complete String Quartets (Box) (Audio CD)
Excellent comments have already been given, so I'd like to just agree w/ the previous reviewers - I love Villa-Lobos and have many of his works; these string quartets were an utter surprise to me as to their quality & the performances; and WHAT a bargain! Although Bartok & Shosty are generally felt to be at the TOP of 20th century string quartet writing (and I do own complete sets of both of their SQ output), I must say that I prefer listening to Villa-Lobos!
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