Sometimes a single encounter can change not only a person’s creative path, but also the history of music. This is what happened to the young Argentine Ástor Piazzolla when he met the legendary teacher Nadia Boulanger in Paris. Aspiring to become a composer of classical music, Piazzolla long concealed his love for tango, but it was Boulanger who encouraged him to turn back to what was the true essence of his art. Thus was born the “tango nuevo”* movement, in which the Argentine tango tradition merged with the principles of classical music and the new ideas of the 20th century.
Alongside this story, the program also explores other connections between music and the spoken word. André Previn’s song cycle, based on texts by Nobel Prize in Literature laureate Toni Morrison, reveals the composer, pianist, and conductor’s ability to sensitively convey poetic text through music. Works by Gabriel Fauré and other composers continue the tradition of French chamber music, in which subtle expression, the beauty of the melody, and the mutual sensitivity of the performers are of paramount importance.
This program is presented by three prominent Lithuanian musicians—soprano Asta Krikščiūnaitė, cellist Gleb Pyšniak, and pianist Milda Umbrusevičiūtė. These performers from different generations are united by their many years of stage experience, their attention to the nuances of chamber music, and their ability to forge a close connection with the audience.
* “Tango Nuevo” (Spanish for “New Tango”) is a progressive movement that emerged in the 1980s. It fundamentally transformed traditional Argentine tango by incorporating elements of contemporary dance, jazz, and classical music.
Asta Krikščiūnaitė (soprano), Milda Umbrusevičiūtė (piano), Gleb Pyšniak (cello)
Program: A. Previn, G. Fauré, K. Brundzaitė, N. Boulanger, Á. Piazzolla
