CLASSICAL

Marco Albonetti Romance Del Diablo: The Music Of Piazzolla Out now ★★★★☆

Last Thursday was the centenary of the birth of the Tango King, the Argentinian Astor Piazzolla. This Chandos issue, featuring the saxophonist and lifelong Piazzolla fan, Marco Albonetti (left), is a highly recommendable introduction to Piazzolla’s art, although Piazzolla was a virtuoso bandoneon player – a square accordion that made a fascinating journey from Germany to the brothels of Buenos Aires, where the tango emerged as the core national music of Argentina.

This album, with arrangements by Albonetti and others, features a small orchestral ensemble with a similar sound to the nightclub sextet Piazzolla himself regularly performed with in New York. Albonetti includes some of Piazzolla’s most celebrated pieces: Oblivion and Libertango, plus his most significant piece, the Four Seasons Of Buenos Aires.

Piazzolla’s success was built on a keen ear for tango rhythms, the flair and imagination to develop the tango in his compositions – even though that got him into lots of trouble with traditionalists – and an exceptional musical training in classical music, especially in Paris with the celebrated Nadia Boulanger. He grew up in New York and, as a 13-year-old bandoneon virtuoso, was recruited by Carlos Gardel, the Argentinian film star and another great tango exponent, to tour with his orchestra. Piazzolla’s parents banned him from going. Just as well. The plane crashed and Gardel and his entire band were killed. Leaving Piazzolla to enjoy 50 more years putting the tango on the map all over the world.

A fascinating musician, honoured here by a fascinating album.