Sonata Brasileira

Description

"Since my early childhood, I have been fascinated by characters in novels and films with extraordinary odysseys. This may explain my particular interest in the narrative form of sonatas, especially those written by Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Scriabin and Prokofiev. For example, I remember my amazement when I played Beethoven’s last sonata for the first time, and how important that moment was for me. I later began to pay attention to Brazilian composers who had taken on the challenge of writing sonatas for piano, and I began to include them in my repertoire. Once the decision was made to record this album, which I believe is the first major tribute to Brazilian piano sonatas, I made an effort to introduce this ancient and traditional form to people of my generation by asking young composers to write new sonatas, in order to bring a certain freshness to this project. When I think of these young composers who come from popular music - such as the jazz musicians André Mehmari and Marcelo Amazonas - I wonder how this album will be received by Brazilians. In Brazil, we have so many nationalities living together, and so many different kinds of music: Brazilian rhythms, which have their origins in Africa; Maracatu, Baiao; European styles; North American jazz reflected in our bossa nova, not to mention rock and Eastern influences. I am constantly fascinated by these different styles, mixed together in this album, through these four piano sonatas. And we Brazilians are exactly like that: mixed." Antonio Vaz Lemes