Gnattali's musical style is characterized by a fusion of Afro-Brazilian rhythms and folk idioms within a European framework, often with an improvisatory feel.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded at Skywalker Sound, a Lucasfilm, Ltd. Company, in Marin County, California, across several dates in 2009.
Composer Biography
Radamés Gnattali (1906-1988) was a prominent figure in 20th-century Brazilian music, active in both popular and classical traditions.
Performer Biography
Natalia Khoma, the cellist on this recording, is the first and only Ukrainian cellist to have won at the prestigious Tchaikovsky Competition.
Composer Biography
Gnattali, born to an Italian immigrant family, began his musical studies with piano lessons from his mother and later studied at prestigious institutes in Brazil.
Cultural Impact
Through his work as orchestral director at Rádio Nacional, Gnattali played a key role in shaping Brazilian popular music and popularizing the samba.
Compositional Technique
Gnattali's music often incorporates jazz influences, evident in his use of chromaticism, parallel chords, and unexpected harmonic progressions.
