Paris, 1920’s: fresh off the victory of the First World War but still reeling from the calamity, the cultural scene is ripe for the taking. Wholesale rejection of German cultural aesthetic and embrace of the absurd set the stage for an entirely new form of modernism. Works by Heitor Villa-Lobos and Darius Milhaud showcase the folk music of Brazil through primordial rhythmic drive and striking new harmonies. In contrast, works by Pierre-Octave Ferroud and Francis Poulenc shine with cosmopolitan glitter, juxtaposing popular cabaret tunes with hypnotic moments of pathos and Mozartian lyricism.
Villa-Lobos, Chôros No. 2 | Milhaud, Sonata for Piano & Winds, Op. 47 | Pierre-Octave Ferroud, Trio en Mi | Poulenc, Sextet for Piano & Winds
Brook Ferguson, flute | Ian Wisekal, oboe | Nick Davies, clarinet | Carolyn Kunicki, horn | Martin Kuuskmann, bassoon | Damien Krzyzek, piano