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NAXOS TO RELEASE HEITOR VILLA-LOBOS’ BACHIANAS BRASILEIRAS
NOVEMBER 15^TH

Complete recording features Kenneth Schermerhorn and Nashville Symphony

Naxos is pleased to release on November 15^th the complete recording of Heitor Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras performed by the Nashville Symphony under the leadership of Kenneth Schermerhorn.

Composed between 1930 and 1945, the nine Bachianas Brasileiras are an “homage” to J.S. Bach that blends Baroque techniques and the sounds of Villa-Lobos’ native Brazil.  Most of the Bachianas have both formal titles that evoke the Baroque as well as nationalistic Brazilian monikers.

Some of Villa-Lobos’ best-known music can be found in this collection, including the fifth Bachianas Brasileiras for cellos and soprano (performed here by Rosana Lamosa) and No. 2, “The Little Train of the Caipira,” a vivid evocation of a steam locomotive moving across Brazil.

Kenneth Schermerhorn, who passed away earlier this year, raised the Nashville Symphony to international prominence over the course of his 22-year tenure as Music Director, increasing the size of the group, taking them on their first tours, and leading them in a number of acclaimed Naxos recordings.  The Schermerhorn-Nashville Symphony CD of Elliott Carter’s Symphony No. 1 and Piano Concerto was a 2004 GRAMMY Award finalist for Best Classical Album and Best Instrumental Solo Performance; the 2003 disc of music by Amy Beach was also a GRAMMY nominee.

Naxos is also releasing this month the Nashville Symphony’s recording of Morton Gould’s Fall River Legend and “Jeckyll and Hyde” Variations (8559242).

KENNETH SCHERMERHORN AND THE NASHVILLE SYMPHONY ON NAXOS