HEITOR VILLA-LOBOS (1887-1959): Symphony No. 12, Uirapuru, Mandu-Çarará for Children's Choir, Chorus and Orchestra.

Description: The twelfth and last of Villa-Lobos' symphonies (1957) was premiered in Washington D.C. and, although on a somewhat smaller scale than most (only 25 minutes in this recording), still employs the composer's trademark polytonal, highly rhythmic and variegated orchestral color and has that sweep and energy common to all of his orchestral music. Uirapuru is well-known by now, making it easy to describe the almost unknown Mandu-Çarará of 1940 - these works belong to the same primitivist style, the latter a 14-minute cantata based on an indigenous legend and sung in the original Nheengatu language. English translations included. São Paolo Children's Choir, São Paulo Symphony Choir, São Paolo Symphony Orchestra; Isaac Karabtchevsky.