Piazzólla: Le Grand Tango

Vincent Peirani and François Salque, coming from two very different environments and musical traditions, have gradually developed languages and pathways of their own, involving written and improvised music as well as experimentations, from one concert to another. Their first disc, Est, was devoted to the traditional music of central Europe. This time their guiding thread is the music of South America, and more especially the universe of Astor Piazzolla. Their two sonorities, as magnificent as they are different, intertwine and interlace amid the melodic and rhythmic undulations of the pieces, sometimes adapted, sometimes created by Vincent Peirani, Jocelyn Mienniel, and Tomás Gubitsch.

These two young musicians have won all sorts of awards, ranging from the prize of the Concours Rostropovich for cellist Norbert Anger to the first prize and audience prize of the Steinway Piano Competition for Nicolai Gerassimez. They became acquainted as prize winners of the German Music Competition and discovered their shared love of chamber music. As the Duo Anger-Gerassimez, they show the colorful variety of the combination cello/piano on their debut CD. They succeed superbly in rendering Brahms with pathos, Debussy with a playful quality and Piazzolla erotically. In so doing, the two young talents do not shy away from experimentation, either: in the Grand Tango of Piazzolla, the cello sounds like an electric guitar thanks to a special sound effect. A must for open minds and ears!

Born in Argentina in 1921, Ástor Piazzolla grew up in New York before eventually returning to his homeland in 1955. One of the finest composers to have emerged from South America, he is best remembered today for his development of the tango – a product of the working-class suburbs of Buenos Aires, and a dance whose rhythm Piazzolla combined with his classical training as well as American jazz influences to achieve a highly personal style.

Piazzolla’s output is dominated by chamber music, and in this fascinating 2CD collection we encounter some of his most famous works within the genre. Effectively tracing the Argentinian’s career, the compilation contains such early gems as Tres Piezas Breves, a late-1940s composition documenting his attempt as a serious composer, as well as the renowned Adiós Nonino of 1959 that was responsible for raising Piazzolla’s reputation both at home and abroad. A range of pieces from the 1970s and 1980s also feature, many of which detail instrumentation the composer hadn’t tackled before – Histoire du Tango, for example, matched the flute and guitar, and its four movements equate to a musical microcosm in tracing the evolution of the tango.

By the time Piazzolla came to write Five Tango Sensations (1989), he was attracting the attention of internationally renowned musicians. Composed for the progressive Kronos Quartet, the late work shows just how much his style had advanced through its liberal use of the once-favoured 3+3+2 rhythmic cells, complex harmonies and virtuosic display.

Despite this shift, however, Piazzolla never lost sight of the sensual, despairing emotion of the tango – an emotion that is the essence of this wonderful assortment of works, inspiringly performed by the Interensemble Padova.

Recorded in 1996

Legendary tango performer and composer Astor Piazzolla gained experience of jazz in New York and classical form and technique through studies with Alberto Ginastera. His work lends itself perfectly to arrangement for all kinds of ensemble, and this is the first recording with solo trombone. These popular pieces showcase the stunning playing of multi-award winning soloist Achilles Liarmakopoulos in a variety of moods, including the famous Oblivion, and Le Grand Tango, a virtuoso show-stopper originally written for cellist Mstislav Rostropovich.

Following on from their successful first CD for Cello Classics, “Jaguar Songs”, named Editor’s Choice by Strings magazine, Cello Classics are delighted to announce the release of CC1025 – Song of the Birds – Spanish & Latin Cello.

Featuring music by de Falla, Sarasate, Piazzolla, Granados, Cassadó, Ginastera and Casals, cellist Nancy Green and pianist Tannis Gibson give stunning virtuoso performances overflowing with Latin fervour.

The Calvert-Turner Cello and Harp Duo gave their first concert in 2003 and have performed all over the UK to great critical acclaim. This disc is unique due to its combination of beautiful works for cello with piano or orchestral accompaniment, interpreted by Eleanor Turner at the harp, and original Cello and Harp duets. The release also features a premiere recording of an original Cello and Harp Sonata by the legendary Ravi Shankar.

This CD is being released in the UK to coincide with Duo Sol’s UK tour, including appearances at the Edinburgh Festival. It is a 20th century travelogue, including works by Korngold, Rachmaninov, Piazzola and Australian Matthew Hindson and Gordon Kerry. Their eclectic and innovative programme on this CD is held together by the artists’ finesse and musical intelligence.