Tangos in Finland? Actually that Scandinavian country is a hotbed of tango aficionados, and the Alba label has released four previous SACDs of Piazzolla-based albums. The 11 tracks of this disc bring us some of the most familiar Piazzolla works as well as some less-well-known ones. The quintet that functions as the “concertino” in these wonderful transcriptions – mostly by Henrik Perello – consists of piano, violin, guitar and bass plus a guest bandoneonist.
The arrangements make Piazzolla’s music come alive. I found these some of the very best versions of his hits such as Oblivion and Adios Nonino. The latter is heard in an eight-minute version which for me worked to ingrain that pieces as my favorite Piazzolla selection of them all. Touching, emotional, lyrical – many orchestral arrangements of Piazzolla seem to lose much of the directness and excitement of the originals for tango quintet, but not these. Plus the hi-res surround makes them an immersive experience.
TrackList: Preparence, Oblivion, Triunfal, Imperial, Adios Nonino, Coral, La Muerte del Angel, El Choclo (Angel Villoldo), Invierno Porteno, Tres Minutos con la Realidad, Libertango.
– John Sunier
