What a cast and what a program at the 19th concert in the series Incense of Music in the Roten Salon of the Volksbuehne Berlin. With musicians Gustavo Beytelmann- the legendary tango pianist and composer from Argentina and long-time concert companion of Astor Piazzolla, who since 1976 because of political reasons is residing and working in Europe- paired together with the Bohórquez brothers Claudio and Oscar, both gifted soloists of Classical music with Uruguayan-Peruvian roots. Works by Duke Ellington, Astor Piazzolla and Gustavo Beytelmann were performed. “Caravan”, by Duke Ellington (and trombonist Juan Tizol) in 1937 arranged of Beytelmann for piano, violin and cello, was played at the beginning. This was followed by two trio pieces by Beytelmann, “Queridas Memorias” (originally for bass clarinet, violin and piano) and “Ofrenda” (bandoneon and string quartet), the latter composed and dedicated to Astor Piazzolla after his death. The next two works performed, also by Beytelmann, were duos for piano and violin: “Ausencia”, “Absence” in English, and “Bethsabée”, a composition inspired by the famous painting by Peter Paul Rubens. In it, a young, black servant, at a fountain, presents a love letter from King David to the already married and scantily clad Bathsheba, who eagerly watches the scene from a balcony. The crowning glory of the first part of the evening was by Astor Piazzola with his “Le Grand Tango”, a duo for cello and piano, created in 1982 on behalf of Mstislav Rostropovich. The warm, resinous scent of Copal Oro, the tropical, fossil amber of South America, called “brain of the sky” by the Mayas, accompanied this first, rich half with its clarifying and uplifting note. In the second, the sweet and aromatic woods of a Peruvian Palo Santos were ignited. A perfect, ambiental basis for the next pieces performed: “Ayeres”, a piano solo piece by Beytelamann, and the “Las Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas”, in English: “The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires”, a composition by Astor Piazzolla in a version of his Cellist-friend José Bragato arranged for piano trio. As Latin American counterpart to Vivaldi’s baroque masterpiece, these works symbolize the soul of the big city of Buenos Aires, which is staged in the four movements with passion, slowness, rhythm, impermanence, longing, loneliness, coldness and seduction. Finally, as an encore the conclusion of a memorable evening: “Muerte del Angel”, also Piazzolla, composed in 1962.
A multisensory concert – 18. Juni 2017, 20 Uhr
Gustavo Beytelmann: Klavier; Claudio Bohórquez: Cello, Oscar Bohórquez: Geige – Fabio Dondero und Dominik Breider (Incense burning): Palo Santo
Video by Fabio Dondero
Palais im Roten Salon, Volksbuehne Berlin