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Queen of Tango
Since Máxima's famous tear to the melancholic strains of Astor Piazzolla's Adios Nonino, Piazzolla's music captivated the entire Dutch population overnight. Now, 25 years later, his renowned tango opera MARIA DE BUENOS AIRES is finally being performed again in the Netherlands. More relevant than ever, and in a brand-new format! The Netherlands Saxophone Octet was the first Dutch ensemble to receive the rights from Piazzolla's heirs to adapt the piece for eight saxophones, voice, text, bandoneon, piano, and percussion.
Alongside the eight saxophonists—also tango dancers—mezzo-soprano and crowd-favorite Karin Strobos shines as the combative Maria de Buenos Aires, baritone and opera hero Berend Eijkhout as her vigilant male counterpart, and Freek den Hartogh as the idealistic Duende. And what would an inspired tango opera be without the bandoneon and dance? Maria de Buenos Aires therefore features the Argentinian musicians Santiago Cimadevilla (bandoneon), Juan Pablo Dobal (piano), and Marcos Baggioni (percussion), both of whom have had success in the Netherlands. The tango duo Ezequiel Paludi & Geraldine Rojas also impresses with their equally passionate and graceful dancing.
Maria de Buenos Aires is a story full of emotion and melancholy, but above all, of courage, hope, and inspiration… For isn't living from inspiration the essence of our existence? The Duende rebels against the way the world works, with the rich getting richer and the poor struggling to make ends meet. Through Maria, he tries to touch the souls of these wealthy individuals, but they see only the lucrative potential of Maria's singing and tango talent. There seems to be no emotion. They seek to exploit the queen of tango purely for commercial purposes. And there, the Duende draws a line. He intervenes decisively, with all the consequences.
Photo © Aldo Sessa