Alternative Piazzolla

Jul. 1-7, 1997

In July of 1997, there was a series of concerts called "Alternative Piazzolla" in Japan. Various artists performed Astor's music in various places, and I was to the "Opening Special" on Jul. 1 in Tokyo, and "Mosalini & Antonio Agri Tango Quintet" on Jul. 5 in Yokohama.

Table of contents

Opening Special

Jul. 1, 1997 at Bunkamura Theater Cocoon, Shibuya, Tokyo

Mosalini & Antonio Agri Tango Quintet

Jul. 5, 1997 at Kanagawa Kenritsu Ongakudo, Kanagawa

Opening Special

Part 1

Bando

Mosalini Tango Orchestra (bn S. Amico)

Preparense

Mosalini Tango Orchestra (bn J. J. Mosalini Jr.)

Lo Que Vendra

Mosalini Tango Orchestra

Tres Minutos Con La Realidad

Mosalini Tango Orchestra

Villa Luro

J. J. Mosalini & L. Sanchez (duo)

Fantasia Urbanas

Mosalini Tango Orchestra (bn J. J. Mosalini, no pf)

Hommage á Liege

Mosalini Tango Orchestra (bn J. J. Mosalini, no pf)

Part 2

Revirado

P. Ziegler (solo)

Adiós Nonino

P. Ziegler (solo)

Aller Retour I & II

J. J. Mosalini & A. Agri (duo)

Café 1930

A. Agri & L. Sanchez (duo)

Adiós Nonino

A. Agri (solo)

Revolucionario

Mosalini & Antonio Agri Tango Quintet

Concierto Para Quinteto

Mosalini & Antonio Agri Tango Quintet

Encore

Tristezas De Un Doble A

Mosalini & Agri Quintet

Mosalini Tango Orchestra

Juan José MOSALINI (bn), Osvaldo CALO (pf), Roberto TORMO (b), Nocolas DUPIN/Sébastien COURANJOU/Anne LEPAPE/Juliette WITTENDAL (vn), Sylvestre VERGER (va), Cécile GIRARD (vc), Serge AMICO/J. J. MOSALINI Junior (bn)

Mosalini & Antonio Agri Tango Quintet

Juan José MOSALINI (bn), Antonio AGRI (vn),
Leonardo SANCHEZ (g), Osvaldo CALO (pf), Roberto TORMO (b)

First 4 pieces of the Part 1 were based on the adaptations of Astor's strings orchestra (orquesta de cuerdas) in the middle of 50's. Especially, Mosalini's enthusiastic play on "Tres Minutos Con La Realidad" impressed me. "Hommage á Liege", originally concert for bandoneon and guitar, was also excellent performance with presenting the beauty of the piece.
The sound of the strings part was really beautiful through all over this part. These performances may be better than those of Astor's, I think.

Pablo Ziegler, ex pianist of Astor's quintet, suddenly appeared at the begining of the Part 2. "Adiós Nonino" was performed such that the deep introduction part of piano adapted by Dante Amicarelli in 69 and that by Pablo himself in 80's sequentialy.
And then Antonio Agri appeared. His performance was really marvelous, although someone who used to listen his live performance says Antonio was not in his best at that time.
Last 3 pieces by quintet were performed with almost same arrangement as Astor's quintet. "Revolucionario" is something rare repertory such that Astor's recording of the piece is only available in "Piazzolla en el Regina". I think they dedicate the performance of this piece to Astor's never-ending revolution for tango through all of his life.

Mosalini & Antonio Agri Tango Quintet

Part 1

Michelangelo '70

Apretonados

Invierno Porteño

Otoño Porteño

Milonga Loca

Tangata (Fugata-Soledad-Final)

Mosalini & Antonio Agri Tango Quintet

Part 2

Night Club 1960

Mosalini & Coba (duo)

Violento

Mosalini, Sanchez, Calo, Tromo, Coba

Tanghesta

Mosalini & Antonio Agri Tango Quintet with Coba

Muerte de Juan Tango

Concierto Para Quinteto

Desde Adentro

Revolucionario

Mosalini & Antonio Agri Tango Quintet

Encore

Adiós Nonino

Mosalini & Antonio Agri Tango Quintet/DD>

In the Part 1, I felt that they were a little bit nervous. There were several mistakes in Antonio's play.
"Tangata" was performed with the original format, suite of 3 parts; Fugata-Soledad-Final.

The Part 2 was opened with appearance of Coba (Yasuhiro KOBAYASHI), one of the best accordion player in Japan. The first piece "Night Club 1960", excerption from "L'histoire du Tango" was performed as a duo of Coba and Juan José Mosalini. I felt, unfortunately, it was not successful trial because the replacement of the guitar's arpeggio by the left hand of bandoneon does not fit to the nuance of the piece.
Next piece "Violento" was fairly good, and "Tanghesta" the most exciting performance of the night, featuring pizzicato solo of the contrabass which is rare for tango.
Pieces after that were really excellent. The only thing I was disappointed was that "Retrato de Alfredo Gobbi" was skipped although it is on the list of the program sheet.

"Adiós Nonino" was performed as an encore. Antonio Agri's solo in that was splendid and moved me to tears.