You would think that by now the Naxos label, now over 30 years old, with the various series of recordings they've produced and released over the years, including many obscure works by neglected composers and comprehensive collections covering practically every note of music from specific countries or regions of the world, that they would have left no stones unturned and researched every possible avenue looking for new discoveries, right? Well, it seems they're not done yet. This new recording, featuring the music of composer Alberto Nepomuceno (1864-1920) is the first in a new series of recordings titled The Music of Brazil which will cover about 100 orchestral works from the 19th and 20th centuries, to be performed by the Minas Gerais, the Goiás Philharmonic Orchestras and the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra. With many fine composers stretching from the Baroque period to the present day including Almeida, Braga, Gomes and Villa-Lobos to name but a handful, this should prove to be an interesting series.

Alberto Nepomuceno spent many years in Europe furthering his musical studies and working as a conductor. He rubbed shoulders with Grieg, Debussy, D'Indy and Saint-Saëns. After his return to Brazil where he became a teacher (Villa-Lobos was one of his students) he was asked by Gustav Mahler to conduct the Vienna Opera but had to turn down the prestigious offer due to illness. The heavy influence that his studies in Europe imposed on his style can't be ignored. Never in a million years would you even guess that his Symphony in G Minor was written by a Brazilian composer. The shadows of Mendelssohn and Brahms loom large throughout all four movements. But then when you listen to the beautiful Alvorada na Serra (Dawn at the Mountains) from the Brazilian Suite, the enchanting main melody based on traditional folk material, reveals this composer's Brazilian roots, despite the upper foliage swaying to European winds.

With this first volume, the Music of Brazil series is off to an impressive start. Get in on it now if you want to hold a front row seat on a slew of new and fresh discoveries, and new recordings of works by Brazilian masters.