Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992, Argentinian)

Tangos. There’s a current fad for the music of Piazzolla, and I don’t entirely share it. Sure, it’s a crowd-puller, easy-listening, easy-success, and there can be a degree of dramatic profundity in Tango. But still, after a while, Piazzolla’s tangos, tangos and more tangos with always the same undercurrent of nostalgia sound somewhat formulaic to my ears. That said, if you are not yet tired of Piazzolla and tangos, Kremer’s “Hommage à Piazzolla” can be a safe recommendation, with clever arrangements.

Hommage à Piazzola. Gidon Kremer (violin), Michel Portal (clarinet), Paul Meyer (clarinet), Alois Posch (double bass), Per Arne Glorvigen (bandoneon), Friedrich Lips (bajan), Vadim Sakharov (piano), Svjatoslav Lips (piano), Elizabeth Chojnacka (harpsichord), Vladimir Tonkha (cello), Mark Pekarsky (percussion). Nonesuch 7559-79407-2 (1996)

Melodia en La menor (Canto de Octubre). Kremerata Baltica, Gidon Kremer (violin & direction), in De Profundis(works of Sibelius, Pärt, Šerkšnytė, Schumann, Nyman, Schubert, Tickmayer, Shostakovich, Auerbach, Piazzolla, Pelēcis, Schnittke). Nonesuch 7559 79969 9 (2010)

 

2 thoughts on “Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992, Argentinian)”

    1. Evidentemente, and I do confess having spent more time with the music of Bach, Beethoven and Mahler than with the music of Piazzolla. Strangely, something seems to have mesmerized me with the music of those composers, leading me to always want to hear again and more, something which the little music of Piazzolla that I’ve heard didn’t stirr in me, I wonder why. To be honest, it is the same with a lot of the music of Elgar, or Richard Strauss…

      That doesn’t invalidate your preferences, of course. And I’ve never quite warmed to the unique profundity of Julio Iglesias either. sobre gustos no hay disputa.

      But be reassured! I’m not giving up! I have dozens of CDs of Piazzolla in my collection that I haven’t yet heard (and I’m not counting the CDs of Elgar and Strauss….)

Comments are welcome