Argentina’s tango has been widely recognized as one of the most significant genres in 20th-century music, due to its complex literary, political, social, psychological, and cultural markers. Astor Piazzolla’s music occupies a unique place in the development of the genre and he is arguably the most important figure in tango in the last quarter of the 20th century. However, Piazzolla remains a controversial figure in his own country.
Titled “From Piazzolla to Traditional Tango,” this recital with commentary will deconstruct the music of Astor Piazzolla, addressing the roots of traditional tango in his work, the reasons for his controversial impact, and the complex identity and transnational issues surrounding his work.
The concert will be introduced by a panel of tango scholars: Maria Rosa Olivera-Williams, professor of Latin American literature at the University of Notre Dame, and Emily McManus, assistant professor of musicology at St. Mary’s College will be introduced by Carmen-Helena Téllez, professor of conducting, and Daniel Stein, Cuarteto Tanguero violinist and Notre Dame post-doctoral fellow.
Sponsored by the Kellogg Institute for International Studies and the Department of Music at Notre Dame.