The end of the year is a time for one last dance, unexpected discoveries, and music. Together with the Klaipėda Chamber Orchestra, the Belgian ensemble “SONICO” will present a program that will transport the audience to a time in the mid-20th century when tango underwent one of its greatest transformations in Buenos Aires. What had long been associated with dance halls gradually made its way onto concert stages, and at the center of this change were two Argentine artists—Ástor Piazzolla and Eduardo Rovira. One is known throughout the world today, while the other’s creative legacy has only been receiving increasing attention in recent decades.
Although both composers sought to expand the boundaries of tango, their creative paths took different turns. Piazzolla became a symbol of the new tango, while Rovira chose his own unique path, in which he even more boldly combined the tango tradition with the musical ideas of his time. His rarely performed works have found new life thanks to the Brussels-based ensemble “SONICO.” The musicians set out to explore Rovira’s surviving works and brought the composer back to the stage; today, he is increasingly recognized as one of the most important figures of the new tango.
On this New Year’s Eve, tango will return to the stage not only as music; Argentine tango dancers Martín Vicente and Ayelen Urrutia will perform alongside the musicians. Their choreography will extend the narrative of the music, revealing the dialogue and emotional atmosphere inherent in the nature of tango.
