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This tango opera composed by the great Astor Piazzola, who is known to have pioneered the opera tango-genre, with lyrics by poet Horacio Ferrer, will be staged once again four decades after its premiere performance, and its tour around Europe, the US and
The debut of this new production is scheduled to be held on April 17 at the Cervantes National Theater in Buenos Aires, with Ferrer himself acting as poetry reciter – just like in the original version. Julia Zenko and Guillermo Fernández will be the singing performers on this occasion and the orchestra of the renowned bandoneon player Néstor Marconin, serving as musical conductor of this revival, will also be playing in this event.
This opera is a two-part performance, which through a surreal plot, retells the life and death of a girl born in the porteño suburbs, who moves to the city center, learns about tango and becomes a prostitute. This occupation makes her deal with thieves and pimps that lead her to a dark death. Her spectre is doomed to wander around Corrientes Avenue, the epicenter of cinemas and theaters of Buenos Aires city.
This opera´s premier performance took place at Sala Planeta in Buenos Aires on May 8, 1968 and Amelita Baltar and Héctor de Rosas performed the leading roles. Following this presentation, it was staged in Europe, the US and Canada. As a matter of fact, this tango opera set the prelude to cooperative endeavors undertaken by Piazzolla and Ferrer, which resulted in the creation of musical pieces such as “Balada para un loco”(Ballad for a Madman), “Chiquilín de Bachín” or “Juanito Laguna ayuda a su madre”, which was based upon the work of the Argentine artist painter Antonio Berni.
María de Buenos Aires is part of one of the most successful periods in Piazzolla´s professional track record. Between 1958 and 1960, while the artist was living in New York, he composed the tango “Adiós Nonino” - one of his bestknown pieces. In 1960 the bandoneon player returned to Buenos Aires and formed his quintet known as Quinteto Tango Nuevo, which strenghtened its unique musical style and introduced his audience to many of his great masterpieces.
Astor Piazzolla
During his youth and after performing in Anibal Troilo´s Typical Orchestra, Astor Piazzola, who is regarded as one of the XX ´s century major composers, epitomized the great tango renovation arising from the mix of classical music and jazz from the 50´s. “Decarísimo”, “Cuatro Estaciones (porteñas)”(The Four Seasons), “Series del Ángel y del Diablo y “Michelangelo ´70” stand among his most outstanding works. He passed away at the age of 71 in 1992.
Horacio Ferrer
He was born in Montevideo (Uruguay) in 1933. He is acknowledged as being one of the greatest tango poets. His book entitled “Libro del Tango. Arte Popular de Buenos Aires”, written in 1970, is regarded as one of the most in-depth analyses ever made on this musical genre. He was engaged in joint musical endeavors with Astor Piazzolla, and other great musicians such as Anibal Troilo, Julio De Caro, Pedro Laurenz and Osvaldo Pugliese.
Fragment
I am María of Buenos Aires
of Buenos Aires María, I am my town!
María tango, María slum
María night, María fatal passion,
María of love of Buenos Aires, it is me!
