Arthur Moreira Lima Interpreta Ernesto Nazareth
Arthur Moreira Lima
1975
Rankings
Why This Album Matters
The album Arthur Moreira Lima Interpreta Ernesto Nazareth, released in 1975, represents a fundamental landmark in Brazilian discography, cementing the bridge between classical and popular music. Arthur Moreira Lima, an internationally renowned pianist with global acclaim for his interpretations of Chopin, Liszt, and Mozart, dedicated himself to the work of Ernesto Nazareth, one of Brazil's greatest composers, known as "the king of choro" and "the Brazilian Chopin". This work by Moreira Lima brought the sophistication and technical rigour of erudite performance to Nazareth's music, elevating it to a new level of recognition. The choice of such a vast repertoire, compiled into a double album, highlights the richness and complexity of Nazareth's compositions, which transition between polkas, tangos, and choros, revealing the author's melodic and rhythmic mastery. The album is not just an interpretation, but a celebration of Brazilian musical identity, presented with a brilliance and depth that capture Nazareth's essence, making it accessible to both classical music enthusiasts and the public who already revered popular music.
Context
Prior to the recording of this album, Arthur Moreira Lima had already achieved international prominence. In 1965, he secured second place in the VII International Chopin Piano Competition, in addition to the audience award and best sonata interpretation. Subsequently, he obtained third place in the Leeds International Piano Competition in 1969 and the International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1970. His career was predominantly linked to the European classical repertoire. The idea of recording an LP dedicated to Nazareth originated from the journalist and writer Sérgio Cabral, and was promptly accepted by advertiser Marcus Pereira, founder of the Discos Marcus Pereira label. Moreira Lima, who had already included Nazareth's compositions in recitals since 1966, such as a historical performance at the Teatro Municipal in Rio de Janeiro, recognised the importance and quality of the composer's work, insisting that the recording be a double album to encompass its breadth and value.
Recording
The double album Arthur Moreira Lima Interpreta Ernesto Nazareth was recorded in 1975 at Bishopsgate Hall, in London, United Kingdom. Production and sound engineering were handled by Anthony McMillon and Mark Sutton. The technical quality of the recording was considered a decisive factor in the album's success. The album was released in Brazil by the Discos Marcus Pereira label, which stood out for its catalogue dedicated to high-quality Brazilian music. The sleeve notes were written by Marcus Pereira himself.
Songs
The album features 25 compositions by Ernesto Nazareth, encompassing a vast range of his styles and moods. Among the tracks are emblematic pieces such as "Fon Fon", "Confidências", "Ameno Resedá", "Batuque", "Coração Que Sente", "Apanhei-Te Cavaquinho", "Famoso", "Floraux", "Odeon", and "Brejeiro". These compositions are a unique fusion of Brazilian rhythms, such as choro, with elements of the polka, tango, and European waltz, reflecting Nazareth's originality and genius. Arthur Moreira Lima's interpretations highlight the harmonic and melodic complexity of the works, sensitively translating both the vivacity of the tangos and polkas, and the melancholy and depth of the waltzes, such as the "exquisitely refined 'Confidências'". Critics of the time emphasised the pianist's "exact comprehension" of the "Nazarethian style", praising the ideal tempos applied to the pieces, from the tranquil "Floraux" to the super-fast "Vem cá, Branquinha".
Legacy
Arthur Moreira Lima Interpreta Ernesto Nazareth was one of the great events in Brazilian music in 1975. Critic Ronaldo Miranda, in the Jornal do Brasil, classified the LP as "an incisive contribution to the solidification of our musical culture". José Ramos Tinhorão, also in the Jornal do Brasil, considered the double LP an "obligatory work", suggesting that Nazareth himself would approve of the magnificent interpretations. The album played a crucial role in the rescue and valorisation of Ernesto Nazareth's work, presenting it to a wider audience and solidifying its place not only in Brazilian popular music, but also in the erudite repertoire. The recording became a benchmark and has been re-released in various formats over the years, including CDs in 1984 and 2004, attesting to its lasting relevance.
Tracks
Credits
Anthony McMillon, Mark Sutton
Ernesto Nazareth
Arthur Moreira Lima
Anthony McMillon, Mark Sutton
Marcus Pereira
Films
Books
Os 500 Maiores Álbuns Brasileiros de Todos os Tempos
Ricardo Alexandre · 2022
The largest Brazilian music election ever conducted: 162 specialists, spanning journalists, critics, musicians, producers and podcasters, each nominated 50 essential albums, supported by a masterlist of more than 2,000 works. Led by Ricardo Alexandre with tabulation by Sérgio Jomori, it was published in December 2022 as a 200-page hardcover book with graphic design by Fernando Pires.
300 Discos Importantes da Música Brasileira
Charles Gavin, Tárik de Souza, Carlos Calado, Arthur Dapieve · 2008
Conceived by Titãs drummer and musical researcher Charles Gavin, the 434-page book brings together covers and reviews of albums released between 1929 and 2007. The texts were written by journalists Tárik de Souza, Arthur Dapieve and Carlos Calado.
Ernesto Nazareth
Haroldo Costa · 2005
A comprehensive biography of Ernesto Nazareth, one of the greatest Brazilian composers and one of the founders of choro. Haroldo Costa's book details Nazareth's life, work, and legacy, providing an essential context for understanding the compositions interpreted by Arthur Moreira Lima on the album.
Analyses
Arthur Moreira Lima Interpreta Ernesto Nazareth nº 2
arthur-moreira-limady.bandcamp.com
Arthur Moreira Lima Interpreta Ernesto Nazareth n 2 came out in 1975, not 2000 like some might assume. Yeah, it's old, but that's kind of the point. This double LP on Marcus Pereira label is a deep dive into Nazareth's piano works, played by one of Brazil's finest classical pianists. And honestly? It's kind of a quiet masterpiece. The album's got 24 tracks, most of them short. Like, really ...
Ernesto Nazareth (1863-1934) - Obras para piano - Arthur Moreira Lima ...
pqpbach.ars.blog.br
Arthur has always been top of mind among Brazilian pianists, and remains so even among people who have never seen a piano up close. This perhaps explains the immense success, among others, of his "Piano na Estrada" and the collection of records he sold with "Caras" magazine in the 90s.
Arthur Moreira Lima
arthurmoreiralima.com.br
We decided to record two records, combining them into one album. Because the silence surrounding Ernesto Nazareth was long-standing and his body of work was of rare scope and quality. And the same reasons that made us believe in Nazareth, as a composer, led us to believe in Arthur Moreira Lima as a performer.
Arthur Moreira Lima
arthurmoreiralima.com.br
They revive Ernesto Nazareth, in the masterful interpretation by Arthur Moreira Lima's "agile felt fingers", as Eurico Nogueira França says in the liner notes accompanying these records, which I strongly recommend reading.
Um clássico da Marcus Pereira comentado pelos críticos Eurico Nogueira ...
revistadochoro.com
One of the best-known releases from Gravadora Discos Marcus Pereira is the double album by pianist Arthur Moreira Lima interpreting Ernesto Nazareth, "Arthur Moreira Lima interpreta Ernesto Nazareth".
