Villa-Lobos: The Complete String Quartets

Cuarteto Latinoamericano is an award-winning ensemble known worldwide as the leading proponent of Latin American music for string quartet. In this boxed set, the ensemble performs all 17 of Villa-Lobos' string quartets, whose music is vast, varied and exuberant.

Review

Review-capsulated

"10/10" —Classics Today

These fine performances constitute the only complete cycle currently available of the 17 string quartets that pepper Villa-Lobos' entire career. The suite-like, five-movement No. 1, with its adorable "like a jumping bean" finale, is deceptive. Most of these are resoundingly neo-classical works full of acerbic harmonies and typically busy counterpoint, with few overtly nationalistic elements. Of course they sound just like Villa-Lobos, who was himself something of a "nationalistic element" when you come right down to it. The series reaches its culmination in the large works composed around the time of the Second World War, Nos. 7-11, which really do constitute landmark 20th century contributions to the form on a par with those of Shostakovich and Bartók.

For the most part, this is tough and serious music, and it receives tough and serious performances from the Cuarteto Latinoamericano, whose rhythmic verve and slightly astringent timbre works beautifully in clarifying the dense thicket of the composer's effusive counterpoint. Occasionally the very intensity of both music and performance becomes a bit overbearing, but then no one is suggesting that you listen to 17 quartets in a row. Overall, both the works themselves and these performances remain astonishingly consistent in quality. Sonically you couldn't ask for better. At a bargain price, this is a very attractive proposition for anyone who fancies either the composer or chamber music in general.

—Classics Today

Read About This Recording

"10/10" —Classics Today

This six-CD set contains the 17 string quartets of Villa-Lobos performed by Cuarteto Latinoamericano.

Includes bonus DVD containing a performance of String Quartet No. 1 and an interview with Cuarteto Latinoamericano. Also includes 20-page book.

"Overall, both the works themselves and these performances remain astonishingly consistent in quality. Sonically you couldn't ask for better. At a bargain price, this is a very attractive proposition for anyone who fancies either the composer or chamber music in general." —Classics Today

Tracks + Soundclips

Villa-Lobos: The Complete String Quartets
	1.	String Quartet No. 6: Poco animato
	2.	String Quartet No. 6: Allegretto
	3.	String Quartet No. 6: Andante, quasi adagio
	4.	String Quartet No. 6: Allegro vivace
	5.	String Quartet No. 1: Cantilena
	6.	String Quartet No. 1: Brincadeira (A joke)
	7.	String Quartet No. 1: Canto Lirico
	8.	String Quartet No. 1: Canconeta
	9.	String Quartet No. 1: Malencolia
	10.	String Quartet No. 1: Saltando Como Um Saci
	11.	String Quartet No. 17: Allegro non troppo
	12.	String Quartet No. 17: Lento
	13.	String Quartet No. 17: Scherzo: Allegro vivace
	14.	String Quartet No. 17: Allegro vivace (con fuocco)
Disc #2
	1.	String Quartet No. 3: Allegro non troppo
	2.	String Quartet No. 3: Molto vivo
	3.	String Quartet No. 3: Molto adagio
	4.	String Quartet No. 3: Allegro con fuocco
	5.	String Quartet No. 8: Allegro
	6.	String Quartet No. 8: Lenton
	7.	String Quartet No. 8: Scherzo: Vivace
	8.	String Quartet No. 8: Allegro con fuocco
	9.	String Quartet No. 14: Allegro
	10.	String Quartet No. 14: Andante
	11.	String Quartet No. 14: Scherzo: Vivace
	12.	String Quartet No. 14: Molto allegro
Disc #3
	1.	String Quartet No. 7: Allegro
	2.	String Quartet No. 7: Andante
	3.	String Quartet No. 7: Scherzo: Allegro vivace
	4.	String Quartet No. 7: Allegro giusto
	5.	String Quartet No. 15: Allegro non troppo
	6.	String Quartet No. 15: Moderato
	7.	String Quartet No. 15: Scherzo: Vivo
	8.	String Quartet No. 15: Allegro
Disc #4
	1.	String Quartet No. 2: Allegro non troppo
	2.	String Quartet No. 2: Scherzo
	3.	String Quartet No. 2: Andante
	4.	String Quartet No. 2: Allegro deciso-Presto-Finale
	5.	String Quartet No. 12: Allegro
	6.	String Quartet No. 12: Andante malinconico
	7.	String Quartet No. 12: Allegretto leggiero
	8.	String Quartet No. 12: Allegron ben rimato
	9.	String Quartet No. 16: Allegro non troppo
	10.	String Quartet No. 16: Molto andante (quasi adagio)
	11.	String Quartet No. 16: Vivace (Scherzo)
	12.	String Quartet No. 16: Molto allegro
Disc #5
	1.	String Quartet No. 5: Poco andantino
	2.	String Quartet No. 5: Vivo ed energico
	3.	String Quartet No. 5: Andantino
	4.	String Quartet No. 5: Allegro
	5.	String Quartet No. 10: Poco animato
	6.	String Quartet No. 10: Adagio
	7.	String Quartet No. 10: Scherzo-allegro vivace
	8.	String Quartet No. 10: Molto allegro
	9.	String Quartet No. 13: Allegro non troppo
	10.	String Quartet No. 13: Scherzo-vivace
	11.	String Quartet No. 13: Adagio
	12.	String Quartet No. 13: Allegro vivace
Disc #6
	1.	String Quartet No. 4: Allegro con moto
	2.	String Quartet No. 4: Andantino (tranquillo)
	3.	String Quartet No. 4: Scherzo-Allegro vivace
	4.	String Quartet No. 4: Allegro
	5.	String Quartet No. 9: Allegro
	6.	String Quartet No. 9: Andantino vagaroso
	7.	String Quartet No. 9: Allegro poco moderato
	8.	String Quartet No. 9: Molto allegro
	9.	String Quartet No. 11: Allegro non troppo
	10.	String Quartet No. 11: Scherzo vivace
	11.	String Quartet No. 11: Adagio
	12.	String Quartet No. 11: Poco andantino