Piazzólla: Chiquilin de Bachin

• Piazzólla’s compositions have been arrranged by Duo Intermezzo in an innovative way

• These artists specialise in the music of Piazzólla

• They have been influenced by both classical and jazz music

This CD by the Trio Artelli presents some of the most significant works by Astor Piazzolla, illustrating once again the inexhaustible creativity of this Argentinian maestro. Piazzolla’s creations come to be seen as open works, new Latin American standards, able to be appropriated by the various compass points of contemporary music, whether classical, jazz or indeed pop.

These three Neapolitan musicians remain true to their chamber music vocation, producing versions of Piazzolla for violin, cello and piano which are extremely elegant, occasionally minimalist and distinctly modern without in any way detracting from the original. Their arrangements reflect the whole palette of colours and inspirations of the Argentinian composer, with particular attention to his never-failing melodic vein and mood of melancholy. The choice of pieces itself proclaims the intentions of the Trio Artelli, with a tribute to the 'Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas', the four seasons of Baires, Piazzolla’s own reworking of masterpieces of the Italian Baroque.

Who knew that the solid, staid old Berlin Philharmonic had such a groovy group of swingers in its cello section? One of them plays the maracas during the rests in his part, others slap their instruments with abandon, and some of them even shout at appropriate moments: if this makes them sound like trainspotters letting their hair down, it's not meant to. This recording of South American and South American-inspired music is full of joy from beginning to end, and played with the kind of accuracy other ensembles only dream of. The mood ranges from sultry and sweaty (Kaiser-Lindemann's Brazilian Variations) through coolly intellectual (the Fugue from Bachianas Brasileiras No. 1) to pure sunshine (Burt Bacharach's "South American Getaway"). The arrangements are models of their kind, and the cellists respond to their challenges with bravura and passion--at times creating sounds remarkably like a bandonéon, at others producing perfect harmonics in octaves or just singing out with pure joy. Irresistibly seductive.

These fiery works are brilliantly performed by the Macquarie Trio. This collection of tangos and other dances captures the universal theme of the tango: love, life and death.

All tracks are arranged by Quentin Grant unless specified

Hailed as ‘Queen of the classical accordion’, Mie Miki made her first public appearance at the age of five, and has since then given countless concerts. This CD brings together pieces that do not form part of her standard performance repertoire but are more old friends and new, childhood acquaintancies, and some surprise guests from a wholly different musical universe.

Arrangement of works originally written for harpsichord (Daquin’s Cuckoo or Handel’s Blacksmith) or piano (Stravinsky’s Tango and Schubert’s two Moments musicaux) rub shoulders with original accordion compositions such as Wolfgang Jacobi’s Sérénade. Moods range from the irrepressible Miss Karting, straight out of the great French musette tradition, and the breakneck comedy of Road Runner, to the intense pathos of Astor Piazzolla’s Chiquilín de Bachín and the calm serenity of A Spotless Rose, in Brahms’ setting (originally an organ prelude).

Awarded the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory’s Rubinstein Medal, classical guitarist Vicente Coves presents a beguiling recital of music from Argentina, Cuba, Mexico, Paraguay and Spain in which Classical and folk music, Afro-Cuban jazz and avant-garde influences, passion and pathos may all be heard.

Argentina is tango and tango is Piazzolla. Maiberg and Clerch had a surprise success with Classica Cubana (MDG9101536) which earned them an Echo Klassic prize. Now they turn their attention to Argentina. Together with the alto Francisca Beaumont and Guido Scheifen playing cello, they display Piazzolla’s works in a new light.

“The vertical expression of a horizontal desire,” is how Angela Rippon has described the Tango, and while a trifle risqué it neatly encapsulates the essence of the music with its sensuous rhythms and beguiling beat. The Tango captured the imagination of one of Ireland’s finest fiddlers, Fionnuala Hunt, and this disc – the culmination of years of her own research – tracks the art form from its origins in the bordellos and back streets of Buenos Aires to the concert platforms of the world. Tangos & Dances charts the history of Tango through the 1900s up to the present day, from its early dance form to the more jazz-inspired music of contemporary times.

One of Ireland’s most distinguished musicians with an impressive international itinerary to her credit, Fionnuala Hunt leads the RTE National Orchestra in her own lush arrangements of a dozen exotic dances. Complementing the CD is a bonus DVD of Fionnuala in conversation with genial BBC personality Sean Rafferty, discussing her own passion for the dance and the development of this project.