COMPOSER’S NOTES
Tango demands delicate balance. The unique embrace of this sensual dance requires total trust between both partners at every step: in a heartbeat, the dancers are suspended between the past and the present, intoxicated by vertigo and grace.
Stradivatango’s opening movement Le prince écarlate is a tribute to violinist Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741), a pastiche of his dazzling writing for strings. Following in the baroque spirit, Chaconne presents several variations on a theme filled with nostalgia. Ballade takes the form of a two-voiced song, akin to a lullaby. With its unusual metre, La camarde has the qualities of a dance for All Saints’ Day. In Le souffleur, the bandoneon takes the place of the harmonium it would replace in the 19th century. La grive pays homage to the melismas of Carlos Gardel (1890–1935), who was nicknamed “El Zorzal” by his admirers. Composer Juan Carlos Cobián (1896–1953) pioneered the introduction of impressionistic harmonies into tango. The other pieces on the album are part of our concert repertoire that traces the aesthetic trends of 20th-century tango. Some of the works, such as Por una cabeza or El choclo, are essential classics of the genre; others highlight the inventiveness and depth of Astor Piazzolla (1921–1992). Finally, I have reorchestrated some of my most popular melodies, which, under Stéphane’s bow, take on
new colours.
Denis Plante, composer
Translation by Traductions Crescendo