When it comes to dance, tango is as timeless as the waltz, captivating audiences with sultry steps, intricate footwork and elegance with every turn. Held firmly in our imagination, tango in its musical form has also worked its way into entire orchestral works, opera, ballet and continues to influence popular culture.
From its origins on the streets of Buenos Aires, and heard in dance halls across Blackpool and Liverpool, tango, the most proud Argentine cultural manifestation, went global long before we could envision a globalized world – and in great part, to the compositions of Astor Piazzolla.
Born 1921 in Mar del Plata to Italian immigrants, Piazzolla, is widely regarded as tango’s musical great, who took this evocative sound beyond the pampa to New York and Paris. Now Bogotanos have the opportunity to hear Piazzolla’s work when the legendary Argentine ensemble Camerata Porteña presents at the Colón Theatre next month on November 4 and 5.
Known as “authentic heirs of Piazzolla,” Camerata Porteña has performed around the world, paying tribute to their fellow countryman and “a truly successful synthesis of tango and the contemporary,” as cellist Yo-Yo Ma called Piazzolla’s musical legacy.
Under the musical direction of founder Marcelo Rodríguez Scilla, the orchestra will interpret songs that span three decades, from his time in Paris during the 50s to the prolific 60s and 70s in Argentina.
Founded in 1986 Camerata Porteña has headlined at major music festivals and theaters across America, Europe and Australia, and only Argentine orchestra to be hired directly by the Sydney Opera House. In 2014, the ensemble was invited to perform at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall of the Moscow Philharmonic Society and the Philharmonic Concert Hall Tyumen in central Russia.
Musical director Rodríguez Scilla with the musicians of Camerata Porteña will offer a master class Thursday 3 (3:00 pm) titled El ángel vive in honor of Astor Piazzolla. Music students, soloists and tango aficionados can learn about concepts and orchestration in this class, and admission is free with registration through Google:
https://goo.gl/forms/hoCtB5TU3dBmThn32.
Tickets for Camerata Porteña are priced $30,000 pesos and $65,000 and can be purchased through www.tuboleta.com or the theatre’s main box office (Calle 10 No.5-32). Performances start at 7:30 pm.
The music repertoire includes such classics such as Libertango, Primavera Porteña, Nuevamente, Invierno porteño and La bicicleta blanca.
