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El Tanguero - 'The Tango Dancer'


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Daniel Olszewski full profile / Classical Guitar / 1 musician


Full program notes

"El Tanguero" is a heartfelt tribute to the timeless art of Argentine Tango, featuring compositions by renowned masters such as Astor Piazzolla, Jose Luis Merlin, Carlos Guastavino, and a special tribute to Piazzolla by Maximo Diego Pujol. Within the program, the movements of Piazzolla's seminal work 'Four Seasons of Buenos Aires' create structural touchstones for listeners as they are guided through the passionate rhythms, intricate harmonies, and profound emotional depth of Argentinian art music.

Four Seasons of Buenos Aires - Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992)
I. Primavera Porteña
II. Verano Poteño
III. Otoño Porteño
IV. Invierno Porteño

Sonata No.2 - Carlos Guastavino (1912-2000)
I.Allegretto intimo ed espressivo
II.Andante sostenuto
III.Presto

Suite del Recuerdo - José Luis Merlin (b.1952)
I.Evocation
II.Zamba
III.Chacarera
IV.Carnavalito
V.Evocation
VI.Joropo

Elegia Por La Muerte de Un Tanguero - Maximo Diego Pujol (b.1957)
I.Confuseta
II.Melancolia
III.Epilogo


Historical context

This program is such a beautiful deep dive into the soul of Argentina. When you look at these composers, you’re really seeing the evolution of a national identity.

For a long time, there was a tug-of-war between the "serious" classical world and the "gritty" streets of Buenos Aires. Astor Piazzolla was the radical who finally fused them, creating Nuevo Tango—music meant for the concert hall rather than the dance floor. While Guastavino kept things lush and romantic (earning him the nickname "The Schubert of the Pampas"), Merlin and Pujol represent the modern guitar’s ability to bridge these worlds, turning folk rhythms like the Chacarera into high art. It’s a program that moves from the sophisticated salon to the smoky club, capturing that specific Argentine "saudade" or longing.


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