Alberto Nepomuceno (1864-1920) was a herald of Brazilian musical nationalism. He was one of the first composers in his country to employ elements of folklore in his compositions, he encouraged younger composers such as Villa-Lobos, and his music was conducted by Richard Strauss. The Prelude to O Garatuja, an incomplete opera, is one of his best-known works and an example of a truly Brazilian lyric comedy. Série Brasileira is a vivacious suite that employs maxixe rhythms and ends with the feverish batuque dance, while the Symphony in G minor is one of the earliest such examples by a Brazilian, a heroic and lyric structure revealing the influence of Brahms.

This title is the first release of our monumental The Music of Brazil series, which is part of the project Brasil em Concerto, developed by the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to promote music by Brazilian composers. Around 100 orchestral works from the 19th and 20th centuries will be recorded by the Minas Gerais and the Goiás Philharmonic Orchestras and the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra.

The Minas Gerais Philharmonic Orchestra directed by Fabio Mechetti has been involved in ‘The Guitar Manuscripts’, a series of discs devoted to music by Villa-Lobos; 8573115, 8573116 and 8573117 grouped together in 8503289.

Of these performances Fanfare wrote: ‘The Minas Gerais Philharmonic under its founding conductor Fabio Mechetti gives nuanced and enjoyably mellow performances of the orchestral works that are interspersed throughout these programs...’