**** VILLA-LOBOS: “Alma Brasileira: Music of Villa-Lobos.” New World Symphony; Michael Tilson Thomas, cond. (RCA Victor Red Seal).

The wordless aria for soprano and eight cellos that opens Heitor Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 is one of classical music’s best loved melodies. So why are other equally intoxicating “tributes to Bach in a Brazilian style” by Brazil’s greatest composer not heard more? And why not the Cho^ros, those pieces named for the Brazilian street musicians that capture both the mystical Indian spirit of the Amazon and the vibrant urban rhythm of Carnival? That mystery may very well end with this collection of the fourth, fifth (with Renee Fleming as the alluring soloist), seventh and ninth of the Bachianas Brasileiras and the Cho^ros No. 10. It continues MTT’s streak of spectacular recent recordings, but this time featuring his Miami-based training orchestra of young players who exhibit an ability to really let loose. The recorded sound has the presence of pop music, with miking that highlights the rhythmic lines as if they were a rhythm track, and, with this music, it works brilliantly. Once this catches on, as it surely must, a whole Villa-Lobos craze shouldn’t be far behind. I, for one, can hardly wait.