Alexandre Ficarelli - Brazilian Music for Oboe & Cello (2021) Hi-Res

From an extensive research of the Brazilian repertoire originally composed for the two instruments, the oboist Alexandre Ficarelli and the cellist Raïff Dantas Barreto - colleagues in the Municipal Symphony Orchestra of São Paulo - began the realization of this unique project, which rescues and brings to light unpublished works through the album Brazilian Music for Oboe & Cello.

From the composer Mario Ficarelli, Alexandre's father, the musicians chose "Sonatina para Violoncelo Solo" - version of the homonym work written for solo viola - and the unpublished "Quatro Esboços para Oboé Solo". From Liduino Pitombeira, "Seresta No. 18" was elected with its two movements, Modinha and Baião, which integrate the cycle of the composer's pieces inspired by the Brazilian dances, rhythms and musical genres. From Edmundo Villani-Côrtes, "Frevo Oboecélico", a work with festive and dancing characteristics, where the good humor of the composer appears in the choice of the title.

The duo also brings to the repertoire a work by José Guerra Vicente, "Divertimento para Oboé e Violoncelo", written by the composer in 1973, shortly before his death. From the composer José Vieira Brandão, the piece "Duo" has a first movement entitled Seresta, with a very intimate melody. The second movement, Desafio, a song that was chosen as the album's first single (listen here), refers to the dispute of the Brazilian northeastern repentistas and their improvisations.

The second song chosen to anticipate the release of the album was "Frevo Oboecélico para Oboé e Violoncelo". Edmundo Villani-Côrtes' work portrays one of the best-known Brazilian rhythms, which has its origins in the maxixe, in addition to having elements of capoeira. Here, the composer, in a humorous piece, plays with the oboe and the cello, which sometimes are challenging each other and sometimes getting together to dance. The song was released in the streaming platforms last Friday, June 11th.

The full album hits the platforms on June 25th, by Azul Music, a record label in São Paulo that, in recent years, has been dedicated to the construction of a significant catalog of classical music, with exceptional artists and works.