Piazzólla: Tango Distinto

“A swinging, sultry collection of arrangements of the Tango King's music showcasing the exception talent of Greek trombonist Achilles Liarmakopoulos.” --BBC Music Magazine, March 2012 ****

"Piazzolla’s music appears in a variety of arrangements, but this is claimed as the first recording with a trombone as the constant element. I don’t recall having encountered the young Greek trombonist Achille Liarmakopoulos before, but he’s a fine exponent of the music, in combination with a variety of other instruments. You probably already know if you like Piazzolla’s music—and it’s very hard to dislike. If you don’t, this is as good a way as any to get to know it…" --MusicWeb International, May 2011

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.

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Piazzólla for Violin, Brass and Percussion

Astor Piazzolla’s much-loved tangos have been arranged for all manner of instrumental line-ups, this album presenting an exuberant selection specially arranged for the acclaimed Tuscan Brass and Percussion Quintet. The Quintet is joined by guest violinist Andrea Tacchi. The result is a thrilling new take on nuevo tango, passionate yet poised, sharp and shiny as a knife-blade. The centrepiece of this album, Piazzolla’s witty Four Seasons Suite takes Vivaldi’s famous violin concertos for a stroll through the docklands of Buenos Aires, the original home of tango itself.

Oleg Ledeniov
MusicWeb International, August 2011

Piazzolla’s music is all about passion. And what other instruments can convey passion better than a trumpet or a violin? Trumpet is the dark side of it: its raw force, its violence—but also its rapture and ecstasy. The violin is the sublime, tender, sensual voice of passion. Maybe that’s why Piazzolla’s music yielded surprisingly well to the arrangements that Donato De Sena made for his Quintetto di Ottoni e Percussion della Toscana—an ensemble of brass and percussion. In half of the numbers the violin was added as the leading instrument, with an excellent contribution from violinist Andrea Tacchi.

The tide of recordings of Piazzolla’s music does not retreat. Many of these discs repeat more or less the same program with minor variations: Piazzolla already has his “standards”. Some of the usual suspects can be found here as well—Libertango, Oblivion, La Muerte del Angel, all of The Four Seasons and one movement from Histoire du Tango. But Piazzolla’s output was huge, some say over 700 works. So, much more first-class music can be rediscovered and there’s some of it here—thank you!

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Piazzolla: Adios Nonino

Astor Piazzolla’s name has become synonymous with tango, that epitome of sadness and melancholy expressed in dance and singing. Piazzolla laid the foundations for the worldwide renaissance of this cultural phenomenon. The Argentinean composer and bandonéon player rescued tango from being the clichéd dance form it had been reduced to during the Golden Twenties – Piazzolla set about reviving tango with an equal amount of courage and uncompromising endeavour. He mixed traditional tango with elements of jazz and classical music, inventing a new style in the process: tango nuevo.

Some tango aficionados celebrated Piazzolla as being a true innovator – others cursed him, calling him tango’s “gravedigger”. Regardless of the subjective assessment of his achievements, Piazzolla personified tango‘s zenith and in addition, became one of the most important composers of the twentieth century.

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Between Worlds

“Avital's follow-up to his superb recording of Bach concertos only confirms that we already knew: that here is a musician who recognises no boundaries except those of good taste, and who has the artistry to persuade listeners to follow him anywhere.” --Gramophone Magazine, February 2014

“The six Bartók miniatures of the Romanian Folk Dances are deftly managed, with subtle string washes setting off Avital’s delicate filigree picking, and De Falla’s “Siete Canciones” offers the broadest range of tempo and emotion. But the most satisfying is Piazzolla’s highly rhythmic “Fuga y Misterio”” --The Independent on Sunday, 2nd February 2014 ***

Avi Avital (mandolin)

A genre-defying tour of the globe exploring the nexus between classical, popular and traditional music uniquely inhabited by Avi Avital and his magical mandolin. From Bach to Bluegrass to Balkan Beats, Avi Avital plays all with charismatic charm.

After the success of “Bach”, Avi returns to again defy expectations with a selection of beautiful melodies and delightful dances from Europe, Central Asia, and the Americas, each with roots in popular folk traditions, arranged by some of the world’s greatest classical composers. For this journey, Avi is joined by a host of special guests: from music legends such as Richard Galliano and Giora Feidman, to DG stars such as Catrin Finch, accompanied by a hand-picked ensemble of virtuoso friends from around the world. Repertoire highlights include the popular Monti Czardas, Bachianas Brasilieras (Villa-Lobos), Bloch’s spiritual Nigun, the finale from Dvořák’s “American” String Quartet, Spanish, Bulgarian, Romanian, Cuban and Georgian folk dances, and a very special Piazzolla tango.

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