Trio à cordes et musique de chambre

Description

Unique string trio by composer Heitor Villa-Lobos, this work from 1945 reveals the influence of Schoenberg through its atonal character. The atmosphere that emerges from the initial allegro is that of a waking dream in which the cello carries the dreamer into a kind of abyss. The following andante, calm and serene, leaves the listener in a strange sense of well-being, cut off from the world. It will take the syncopated dances of the scherzo and the agitato of the final allegro to emerge from this senseless dream. The duo for violin and viola composed the following year (1946) is in the same spirit. From the very beginning of the allegro, there is an obstinate dialogue between the two instruments, as if neither of them wants to yield to the other. The adagio brings forth a peaceful understanding that will not last, as the final allegro resumes an agitated exchange that offers no respite to either of the two instrumentalists. The next piece is of fabulous originality, characterized by the obsessive nature led by the flute with a bass supported by the cello. The quintet that concludes this CD is one of Villa-Lobos's last compositions (1957). It marks a return to a style inspired by his early days when he stayed in Paris, allowing himself to be influenced by the music of Roussel and Debussy. The excellent ensemble Mark Rothko invites listeners to discover a rich selection of chamber music by the Brazilian composer.