Astor Piazzolla
Histoire Du Tango

Histoire du Tango - Tribute to Piazzolla

Guitar, viola, and violin to play Piazzolla… "And what about the bandoneon?! The piano?! Where are they?!" many will wonder; "So where is the Tango?" others will add. This ensemble might initially seem somewhat lacking; but once prejudices and false beliefs, which every listener often falls prey to, are cast aside, and the most ardent fans of Astor Piazzolla recover from sudden drops in blood pressure and fainting, one can proceed to listen to a very interesting interpretation of some of the Argentine composer's music.

The trio composed of Enea Leone (guitar), Giorgio Molteni (violin), and Lorenzo Ravazzani (viola) certainly doesn't make one miss the typical instruments of Argentine tango, but rather suggests a "European" way of approaching it. "Why should we, people of the old continent, restrict ourselves to 'imitating' something that comes from the deepest and most passionate soul of the Argentine people?!", the three must have asked themselves… "Instead, let's try to play Piazzolla in our own way, without becoming a bad copy of anyone else!" And incredibly, the experiment works: thus, the more intimate and intellectual side of this eccentric genius of the 20th century takes shape, without forgetting the melodic outbursts (worthy of the best Schubert) and passion that distinguish the compositions of the Argentine musician.

The first four tracks of the album coincide with the "Four Seasons" for guitar solo, with a contemplative and reflective flavor, which almost act as a prelude to the rest: in the following four tracks, the violin is added to interpret pieces like "Bordel 1900" or "Café 1930" and the trio becomes complete starting with "La muerte del angel" to conclude with the famous "Libertango".

The "cultured composer" Piazzolla emerges in all his extraordinary sweetness and creativity (just listen to "Oblivion"), but always without foregoing his extreme and passionate vitality. The path designed by the three young, yet already very experienced, performers is a new, concrete, and important way to appreciate other facets of Astor Piazzolla's varied musical personality and inner world.