Brazilian Rhapsody

On this splendid recording, the Argentinean pianist-conductor Daniel Barenboim extends the thin line between Brazilian popular and classical music. He's joined by bassist Robert Kassinger, violinist Nikolaj Znaider, flutist Emmanuel Pahud, oboist Alex Klein, clarinetist Larry Combs, and Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista. They skillfully meld American jazz, classical genres, Portuguese choros, and African-derived sambas into a New World sound. Barenboim's piano lines are furious on the title track and florid on his Debussyan solo renditions of Darius Milhaud's "Corcovado" and "Sumaré" from Saudades do Brasil. Antonio Carlos Jobim reshaped the samba into the cool bossa nova, and this album's version of "Wave" reveals his melodic genius. The phenomenal singer and songwriter Milton Nascimento provides the high point of the CD, with his angelic tenor on his ebullient ballad "Travessia." Powered by Baptista's hypnotic caxixis and cuicas and guided by Barenboim's wide artistic vision, the sounds on this disc reveal the past, present, and future of Brazilian music. --Eugene Holley Jr. Amazon.com

Classic Elegant Bossa Nova

This is a very nicely produced CD with some Brazilian standards and five unique bossa nova arrangements, Manha De Carvaval, Tristeza, Wave, Avarandado, and Sabia. The sound is unique is that the piano style is highly infuenced with a classical piano flavor. I'm very glad I bought this one. January 19, 2007

Mix of Classical and Bossa Nova styles

I have always enjoyed the interpretations of Daniel Baremboim from the time I first heard his recording of the Schubert impromptus when I was I teen-ager. In the mid 90's Baremboim started to record less traditional forms of Classical music (I least I consider it classical) such as the Tango. And what a wonderful result he has achieved. As a geographically logical next step, baremboim has made a Bossa Nova album. Bossa Nova is one of my favorite styles on its own. Combined with the approach of a classical pianist who revels in the music of Beethoven and Schubert, the music adopts a slightly different but equally enjoyable sound. More than Bossa Nova the album features a beautiful interpretation of a classical piece by Hector Villa Lobos (Bachianas Brasileiras no. 5) which is normally interpreted by a soprano (it's Brasil's answer to Rachmaninov's Vocalise). Perhaps, due to the surprise on the simple and poignant beauty of the melody, I think this piece alone is worth buying the album for. I was especially lucky as I received this as an unexpected gift from someone who grasped my tastes very well from my prefrences on Amazon, for which I am always grateful. Muito Obrigado January 10, 2004

no alcanza con virtuosismo...

este cd de barenboim muestra una vez mas un viejo problema al pretender trasladar y adaptar la musica de ciertos generos, la brasilera es una de las mas castigadas, esta experiencia adolece de los mismos defectos de los tenores cantando tango, rancheras,etc. nadie puede negar la maestria pianistica de barenboim, pero el alma de la musica brasilera esta mas presente en un interprete callejero de rio de janeiro que aqui. si gusta de la musica del brasil aqui solo encontrara su fantasma December 22, 2000

More reviews at Amazon.com ...