Canberra International Music Festival, Concert 17,
“Waltz to Tango”, at the Fitters’ Workshop, May 7. Reviewed by LEN POWER
THE waltz of 18th
century Vienna and the “nuevo tango” of Argentina seem at first glance to be worlds apart.
The waltz was popular in Europe but social unrest in the 19th century resulted in emigration to the Americas. With a melting pot of musical influences, imported and local, new musical genres arose.
By the end of the 19th century, the tango was gaining in popularity in Argentina. In the early 20th century, Astor Piazzolla, who earned his living playing in tango clubs, introduced classical and jazz elements, creating a new repertoire known as “nuevo tango”.