Heitor Villa-Lobos composed his nine sets of Bachianas Brasileiras between 1930 and 1944, his aim being to fuse Brazilian folk music with modernist harmony and Bach-like counterpoint. Ranging from chamber music to vast orchestral works, they form an encyclopaedic portrait of his native country that is unique in music. No 5, for soprano and eight cellos, is famous due to the fact that divas have always wanted to sing it - although No 2, a collection of tone poems, and No 3, a tremendous piano concerto, in some respects surpass it.

The performances, conducted by the late Kenneth Schermerhorn, are terrific, if occasionally raw round the edges.