Hommage à Piazzolla
Om udgivelsen
The selection of this repertoire was born from a deep admiration for the timeless genius of Astor Pantaleón Piazzolla and his revolutionary contribution to the world of music. Each of these compositions stands alone as a pillar of the Nuevo Tango movement, a genre Piazzolla sculpted with passion and a fearless spirit of innovation. These works, undoubtedly amongst his most celebrated and beloved, form an essential part of his musical legacy.
Our journey begins with Las Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas (“The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires”), a stunning reinterpretation of Vivaldi’s baroque cycles, infused with the raw energy and melancholic soul of Buenos Aires. Piazzolla masterfully paints the city’s shifting moods, from the sultry heat of summer to the wistful chill of winter. Escualo propels us into the whirlwind that is Piazzolla’s rhythmic brilliance. Inspired by his passion for fishing, this composition captures the restless spirit of a shark in perpetual motion, a metaphor for the ceaseless drive of Piazzolla’s own artistic journey.
In Romance del Diablo, Piazzolla offers a glimpse into a world both seductive and sinister. The sultry melodies and unpredictable harmonies evoke a tale of temptation and mystery; a love affair between the sacred and the profane. Adiós Nonino, a composition that is undoubtedly one of Piazzolla’ s most personal and poignant works was written in memory of his father. This piece is a profound expression of grief, love and ultimately catharsis, making it one of the most heart-wrenching yet uplifting pieces in the repertoire. We venture into the twin realms of ethereal beauty in Milonga del Ángel and profound sorrow in La Muerte del Ángel. These pieces reflect Piazzolla’s deep narrative sensibilities - one a delicate whisper of grace and longing, the other a dramatic confrontation between life and fate.
The Finale, Oblivion, one of Piazzolla’s most hauntingly beautiful compositions is a piece that transcends time, enveloping the listener in a dreamlike haze of nostalgia and yearning. It is a melody of memory and forgetting, of love lost in the corridors of time. Each of these works is a jewel in the crown of Piazzolla’s artistry, and together, they weave a rich tapestry of emotion, innovation and Argentine soul. This selection is more than just a recital - it is an invitation into the world of Piazzolla’s “golden hits,” a journey through the fire and passion of Nuevo Tango and a tribute to a man who forever changed the course of musical history.
Om artisten
The quintet, an ensemble of artistry and versatility, came together in the pursuit of a shared passion: to breathe new life into the revolutionary soundscapes of Astor Piazzolla. Featuring José Valente on accordion, Filip Štrauch on piano, Adrian Dima on violin, Astor Cortabarria on double bass and Jacob Artved on electric guitar, this ensemble bridges the worlds of classical precision and jazz spontaneity, embracing the very spirit of Nuevo Tango - a genre that thrives on both discipline and freedom.
Their journey began in 2021, when they made their debut at VJ Classic Festival in Copenhagen, captivating audiences with a portrait concert dedicated to the music of Astor Pantaleón Piazzolla. It was a performance that not only paid homage to the great composer but also served as the quintet’s bold artistic statement - an introduction to their distinct interpretation of this profound and evocative musical language.
Based in Denmark, the ensemble was born from a unique confluence of backgrounds: a meeting of musicians fluent in both the intricate phrasing of classical music and the boundless improvisational spirit of jazz. It was precisely this fluid interplay between structure and spontaneity that inspired the formation of the group, for Nuevo Tango demands more than technical mastery - it calls for a deep, intuitive understanding of both discipline and creative risk. With this in mind, the quintet embarked on a journey to not only honor Piazzolla’s legacy but also to shape their own voice within the world of Nuevo Tango, committing themselves to channelling Piazzolla’s bold vision whilst forging new pathways of expression.
Streaming
