From Bach to Brazil – Heitor Villa Lobos

A portrait Heitor Villa-Lobos who arguably is the most significant figure of Brazilian 20th Century art music.

The Guardian recently attested the composer a „larger-than-life, self-mythologizing personality“. Born 1887 in Rio de Janeiro, Villa-Lobos is the most representative composer of art music in his country. Filmmaker Carlos de Andrade had the good luck to be able to draw on the fine collection of the Villa-Lobos Museum for what seems to be the first in depth documentary on the composer. He is taking us on a journey through the vast country and the music inspired by it.

We hear from Arthur Rubinstein how the young composer became a life-long friend, find out from Andrés Segovia what was special about Villa-Lobos´ compositions for guitar and have Gustavo Dudamel describe what he hears in the music of the composer. We will enjoy bits of the 14 Chôros, more from Bachianas brasileiras, his tone poems and concertos as well as his string quartets. There is much to be discovered in his prolific output bursting with spontaneity and improvisatory spirit. As Villa-Lobos once said of himself: I don't use folklore, I am the folklore.

Production year 2019
Director Carlos de Andrade
Production Company Visom Digital
Duration 52'
Video format HD