Theme Country: Brazil

Each year the Casa da Música in Porto, Portugal names a Theme Country for its musical program. This year it's Brazil, and in the Ano Villa-Lobos, there's lots of music by Villa-Lobos. There are rarities like the orchestral version of New York Skyline, the Fantasia for Cello & Orchestra (which surely deserves much more exposure, especially played by António Meneses), Uirapuru, Choros #06 & #09 (on the same programme!), and the choral version of BB#9. Along with three other Bachianas Brasileiras (#2, #4, and #5), and some chamber works, the Orquestra Nacional do Porto does well by Villa-Lobos this year!

This is really, really cool: the Carnaval de Campos do Jordão yesterday announced the theme for this year's Carnaval street day on February 24th. In this Ano Villa-Lobos, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Villa's death, the theme will be the works of Villa-Lobos. Six Samba Schools will be in the parade this year, each with a special Villa-Lobos theme:

• Jardim Márcia - “Uma homenagem a Villa-Lobos”
• Jardim Imperial - “Uirapuru”
• Vila Santo Antônio - “Bachianas”
• Bloco dos Artistas (Vila Britânia) - “Choro”
• Acadêmicos do Britador - “Amazônia Fauna”
• Vai-Vai da Mantiqueira (Monte Carlo) - “O Trenzinho do Caipira”

I can't think what a comparable popular culture event in Europe would be to celebrate this year's Haydn or Schumann anniversaries.

More information at the Guiacampos website.