Martha Marchena - Soul of Brazil - A Tribute to the Piano Music of Heitor Villa-Lobos (2022)

After a long parentheses, Cuban-American pianist Martha Marchena returns to play as beautifully as her vast array of followers are accustomed to. The medium she selects to use is a new recording; the music she interprets is by Heitor Villa-Lobos, a composer dear to her, and the subject of her doctoral thesis. The prolific Villa-Lobos left us with many piano works, some grouped in cycles, like Carnaval das crianças (1919-1920) and A Prole do Bebê (1918-1921) while others standing alone, like Bailado infernal (1920) or the iconic Rudepoêma (1921-1926). These diverse works offer Marchena an opportunity to make her re-appearance a golden reminder of her gifts: again her magic touch when delivering a melody; again her ability to transform brutal force into an awesome fiery musical moment; again her first-rate musicianship that flexes to and fro, transforming some of Villa-Lobos’ repetitive passages to be transformed into delightful structures. Marchena’s comeback is a resplendent one. Her bestowal of the Villa-Lobos piano works she picks for her return is received today with joy. For the older members of her followers, this new recording is a gorgeous giveaway; for the younger listener the bequest is even bigger, for it delivers a wondrous panoply of luminous sound. For everyone, simply enjoy the legacy! Aurelio de la Vega (Northridge, California; October 2021)