Villa-Lobos - Valsa da Dor

Recorded today, Heitor Villa-Lobos' sultry and yearning Valsa da Dor. It was written in 1932 in Rio, and is dedicated to Julieta d'Almeida Strutt, the sister of his wife Arminda. The title is often translated as Waltz of Pain, but I think it more likely that the composer intended one of the alternative meanings of the word "Dor", such as grief, ache, sorrow, melancholy. In short, the typically Portuguese and Brazilian feeling of "saudade".
Judging by the number of recordings on KZbin, this must surely be Villa-Lobos' most popular piano piece. The list of performances is endless, from the greatest pianists to young amateurs. While scrolling through, them I was briefly overcome with a sense of futility about making YET another version. But then I thought, if everybody is recording this piece why shouldn't I ? I love this music as much as anyone, and being not as good as Nelson Freire did not stop all the others. Curiously, despite my decades-long familiarity with Villa-Lobos, I never knew this piece until it popped up in my YT recommendations two weeks ago. Being new to me made it all the more urgent to record it - somehow it's always the latest things that seem most important 😁
Chris Breemer, piano
buymeacoffee.c...
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Recording date: Saturday November 25, 2023
Piano: Kawai Novus NV10S
Setting: SK-EX Rendering
Postprocessing: Bass boost, Treble Boost, Concert Hall Light reverb
Art work: Emiliano Di Cavalcanti - As Mulatas, 1960.
Note on the art work : Sadly this painting was damaged early this year in a riot by rabid followers of Bolsonaro, taking their lead from Trump followers two years before. I did not bother looking for an image of the undamaged painting, as somehow I think it fits the pain/sorrow of the music.

[@daveking3494]

Maravilloso!

[@ChrisBreemer]

Thanks Dave 😊

[@Scouzeboy]

A great reading. Thanks very much.

[@ChrisBreemer]

I had missed your comment. Belated thanks !

[@pianothingsmusic]

Wonderful and emotional rendition, Chris! So good 😊

[@ChrisBreemer]

Many thanks ! Among the myriad of recordings, this surely is not the best but probably not the worst either 😁

[@RileyTuckerMusic]

Bravo Chris, great performance. I think you make the most of the expressibility/pathos of this piece.

[@ChrisBreemer]

Thank you Riley ! I feel strongly for this piece. Which is not difficult, it's Villa-Lobos in his best heart-on-sleeve mode 😍