El Ultimo Tango Six Tangos by Astor Piazzolla

\'... A HEARTFELT VIRTUOSO TREATMENT ... A MUST FOR TANGO AFICIONADOS, AND AN EAR- OPENER FOR PIANO BUFFS,TOO.\' -The Seattle Times \' ... A VIBRANT CD.\' - Seattlle Weekly \'...LUSCIOUS.\' - Seattle Weekly "This C.D., El Ultimo Tango, six tangos composed by Astor Piazzolla is worth hearing. Brazilian pianist Geísa Dutra grew up hearing Piazzolla, and the essence of tango is in her bones. These are not easy pieces to play or to understand...She has succeeded admirably, The six tangos on the C.D. run the gamut of emotion, Spiky, angular passages abruptly give away to something solemn or gorgeous. Another will be sassy and suddenly turn tenderly melodic, then back again. Some feel puzzling or at other moments ominous or occasionally serene. All six tangos are complicated rhythmically and interpretatively, with the left hand playing repetitive patterns that create a propulsive energy as well as provide the grounding, while the right is playing something quite different... it is a full-scale adventure to listen to all the way through." - Clavíer magazine, January 2008 ABOUT THE TANGOS Astor Piazzolla put this cycle together in 1974 in Milan, Italy, where he received the Italian Film Critic Prize for it. Piazzolla often wrote for a quintet combination of Bandoneon, Violin, Electric Guitar, Double Bass and Piano. With that combination in mind, these piano solo arrangements were done being as faithful as possible to maintaining all of the instrumental parts. The result is a very polyphonic writting with up to five voices being heard at the same time, as on the fugue of Violentango or on several passages of Undertango, where the top voices engage in a dialogue over the bass. When listening to this astonishing solo performance, one might even be fooled, by thinking that there are two pianists playing at the same time. The rhythmic energy found in these tangos is often the result of repetitive 123- 123- 12 rhythmic patterns of chords on the bass, or a steady sequence of bass notes. The beautiful melodic themes are usually given to the bandoneon part and are of the utmost expressiveness and poignancy, as on Tristango themes or at the last section of Meditango.They pour out of your heart and are deeply heartfelt. Astor Piazzolla was born in Mar del Plata, Argentina, on March 11 1921. Three years later he moved to New York with his parents where, at the age of nine he learned the Bandoneon, and later the piano. His composition teachers included Alberto Ginastera in Argentina and Nadia Boulanger in Paris, who encouraged him to return to his cultural identity in his compositions. Piazzolla died in Buenos Aires on July 4th 1992. About the Pianist: A native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, GEISA DUTRA has captivated audiences in Europe, North and South America with her musical versatility and powerful, yet sensitive, performances. Winner of numerous prizes in North America and Brazil, she started her musical training at the age of four, with her mother Isabel Dutra. She continued her studies with pianist and composer Heitor Alimonda at the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro and received her Master of Music as a full scholarship student of pianist Bela Siki at the University of Washington in Seattle. A frequent guest performer on National Public Radio and classical radio stations, GEISA DUTRA\'s two previous recordings include - Brazilian and Spanish Piano Works and Chopin Preludes. They were both enthusiastically received by the press and audiences alike. REVIEWS \'Seattle pianist Geisa Dutra, born in Brazil, has arranged six of Piazzolla\'s moody, soulful tangos for the keyboard, and she gives them a heartfelt virtuoso treatment on this disc. A must for tango aficionados, and an ear-opener for piano buffs, too.\' The Seattle Times \'... a vibrant CD ( of Piazzolla tangos).\' Seattle Weekly \' Stunning collection... Here the piano adds to the piece (Cantos de Espana) - a tribute to both Dutra\'s mastery of technique and her impeccable musicianship.\' - Victory Review, Washington \'A delightful disc.\' - Seattle Post Intelligencer, Washington \'Geisa Dutra reaches now, as a concert pianist, her best moment... an audible delight of refined value.\' - O Globo, Rio de Janeiro \'...a bewitching bundle of energy at the keyboard. Technically assured, Dutra\'s splendid performance completely captured the spirit of Villa-Lobos\' music.\' - Journal American, Washington \'It was a privilege and treat to hear pianist Geisa Dutra... The artistry displayed in all these pieces (Brazilian and Spanish) also graced the soloist\'s extracts from Chopin\'s Preludes Op.28... They drew from her gorgeous range of expression.\' - Nottingham Evening Post, England \' Dutra reached the total depth of the music, transmitting, thanks to her outstanding technique, a lively and sensitive image of the composition... She documented in an impressive way her creative power and great technical security.\' - Braunschweiger Zeitung, Germany \' The mastery of technique is pratically untouchable.\' - Classic CD Magazine, Brazil.