American Record Guide

Badgerow offers a nice compilation of works from Brazil, with four Brazilian composers and one French (Milhaud, who was heavily influenced by Brazilian rhythms). While Badgerow’s debut recording does a decent job of introducing listeners to Brazilian classical piano repertoire through his excellent programming, the playing could be more vibrant.

In Villa-Lobos’s Ciclo Brasileiro, there could be more projection, as some parts seem a little muted. The execution could be tighter: Milhaud’s Saudades do Brazil has some choppy technical passages. Mignone’s ’Congada’ seems too reserved, and Gondim’s ’Gingado de Bibi’ seems hesitant—needs more flow. Guarnieri’s ’Dansa Brasiliera’ is charming and sparkling, but feels overpedaled. I enjoy the introduction to composers I would not have known otherwise, such as Paolo Gondim and Mignone; but the sound and execution are not great.

—Sang Woo Kang