BIS Boss Robert von Bahr: We have been extremely lucky with this Box, even though it was "only" in CD quality. It would seem like that very many persons - like me - have found the readings of the São Paulo orchestra totally congenial when it comes to Brazil's great composer Villa-Lobos. The sound from their hall is also an important point. Anyway, the Complete Bachianas Brasileiras and Chôros (plus the Complete Guitar Music) are here for you, and in High-Resolution, which would make this Bundle the only chance you have of getting this in better-than-CD quality.

Separated by the Pyrenees, the musical milieus of Spain and France have sometimes been like oil and water – or maybe like oil and wine. It took Bizet's opera Carmen to open the ears of the French to the Spanish rhythms and inflections which were to become so important to so many composers after him, from Debussy to Ibert. Soloist Sharon Bezaly will hardly need a closer presentation after her highly praised recordings of the past couple of years. The present recording was made with the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra and conductor John Neschling, whose performances of the music of Brazilian composers Guarnieri, Mignone, Braga and Santoro have been praised for their vitality, rhythmic vigour and wide range of colours – all qualities that should be just the thing for building a bridge across the Pyrenees.