Nazareth: Tangos, Waltzes and Polkas

Featuring

Iara Behs
Ernesto Nazareth

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Composition History

Nazareth's works, predominantly Brazilian tangos (over eighty) and waltzes (over forty), laid the foundation for an authentically Brazilian style of classical music.

Performer Biography

Iara Behs, the pianist on this recording, is one of Brazil's most successful concert pianists and is known for her informative introductions to her performances, delivered in multiple languages.

Critical Reception

For a long time, Ernesto Nazareth's music suffered from prejudice and was not considered 'classical,' making it rare in serious piano repertoires, music schools, or competitions.

Compositional Technique

Nazareth's tangos, waltzes, and polkas often feature humorous titles or refer to everyday situations in Brazil, particularly the life of 'cariocas' (inhabitants of Rio de Janeiro).

Recording & Production

This album was recorded in November 2003 in the Concert Hall of the Music Academy of North Rhine-Westphalia, Heek, Germany, using a Steinway and Sons D piano.

Composer's Artistic Vision

The composer Ernesto Nazareth's music was considered by Villa-Lobos, a famous Brazilian composer, to be the very embodiment of the soul of Brazil.

Composer Biography

Ernesto Nazareth, the composer on this album, was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1863 and lived through significant historical events like the emancipation of slaves and the establishment of the republic in Brazil.