The Piazzolla Project / Artemis Quartet with Jacques Ammon

Astor  PIAZZOLLA

The Piazzolla Project

Artemis String Quartet
 Jacques Ammon (Piano)


For the past 10 years, Artemis Quartet cellist Eckart Runge has been engaged in a side gig with pianist Jacques Ammon, entitled "Celloproject", playing the music of tango-master Astor Piazzolla and other Latin-tinged composers. Now the two bring the project to the rest of the Artemis Quartet, for a recording that pulses with the beat of South America.

Runge explains: "The idea of the Piazzolla Project was to bring the authentic sonic and expressive palette of the tango to life with the inexhaustible possibilities of the string quartet, the piano trio, and the piano quintet. Sometimes melting into the melancholy tones of the bandoneon, sometimes breaking out into the raw heterogeneity of the tango quintet, it represented a completely new encounter with sound, rhythm, style, and gesture. It was a pleasure for me to share with my quartet colleagues the experience I had gathered over the years in my engagement with this culture. They were enthused by the depth and variety of the tango. For all of us, this music was a great inspiration and it exercised an enriching influence on our involvement with the classical chamber repertoire."

One of the finest collections of Astor Piazzolla's music on disc. Superbly performed by the quartet and pianist, blending classical playing and jazzy interpretations while staying true to the spirit of Tango Nuevo.

At the very least, the tango music of Astor Piazzolla is an interesting choice for a classically trained string quartet. And adventurous as well. The first six tracks team the quartet with pianist Jacques Ammon. I'm not sure I can picture five people dancing the tango *together*, but now I think I know what it would sound like -- steaming, tense, and just a hair from being over the edge. By contrast, the last four tracks (Suite del Angel for string quartet) are not nearly as frenetic or wrathful, but they are no less impassioned


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Tracks

1. Concierto Para Quinteto For Piano Quintet: Introduction, Allegro - Lento, Improvisando - Piu Vivo Fugato    Artemis Quartet/Jacques Ammon    9:48  
2. Estaciones Portenas (Seasons In Buenos Aires) For Piano Trio: Otono Porteno - Tempo Di Tango    Artemis Quartet/Jacques Ammon    6:04  
3. Estaciones Portenas (Seasons In Buenos Aires) For Piano Trio: Invierno Porteno - Andante    Artemis Quartet/Jacques Ammon    7:05  
4. Estaciones Portenas (Seasons In Buenos Aires) For Piano Trio: Primavera Portena - Fuga    Artemis Quartet/Jacques Ammon    5:57  
5. Estaciones Portenas (Seasons In Buenos Aires) For Piano Trio: Verano Porteno - Tempo Di Tango    Artemis Quartet/Jacques Ammon    6:40  
6. Fuga Y Misterio For Piano Quintet: Movido - Lento    Artemis Quartet/Jacques Ammon    4:25  
7. Suite Del Angel (Angel Suite) For String Quartet: Introduccion Al Angel - Tango, Moderato    Artemis Quartet    4:56  
8. Suite Del Angel (Angel Suite) For String Quartet: Tango Del Angel - Tempo Di Tango    Artemis Quartet    4:37  
9. Suite Del Angel (Angel Suite) For String Quartet: Milonga Del Angel - Melancolico    Artemis Quartet    6:45  
10. Suite Del Angel (Angel Suite) For String Quartet: La Muerte Del Angel - Fuga, Movido    Artemis Quartet