Experience the effect of one man's enduring obsession with Piazzolla
Chiswick-based violinist and leader of the London Mozart Players, David Juritz remembers vividly his introduction to the music of Astor Piazzolla. Partly because he is now married to the woman who, on their first date, sat him down to listen to Piazzolla's classic album, Tango: Zero Hour, but also because of the incredible impact the first seconds of the opening track had on him.
The reaction kicked off a complete and enduring obsession. ‘It was like getting an electric shock. I suppose my life was quite turbulent at the time and the music really chimed with that. Every time I hear that first track, it takes me right back to that moment’, he says.
Fifteen years on and two children later, life is less fraught emotionally and much more hectic, yet the fascination with Piazzolla refuses to go away. ‘I’ve made a point of including his music in as many concerts as I can but have always dreamed of playing it in a proper tango band.’ Over the years David scouted around for musicians for his ideal band.
First on the list was the wild-haired Irish bassist, Mary Scully. One of the elite of London’s session musicians, Mary simply dominates whichever stage she is on. She has worked with artists such as Joni Mitchell, Robbie Williams, Madonna, Peter Gabriel, Spiritualized and the Brodsky Quartet.
Craig Ogden, widely regarded as one of the outstanding guitarists of his generation, has worked as soloist with the Philharmonia, London Symphony, London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic and BBC Symphony Orchestras, as well as performing in the Lincoln Center’s Great Performer Series in New York. He can be heard on the soundtrack of the film, Notting Hill.
Pianist Tim Carey, a long-standing duo partner of David’s, enjoys an international career having recently returned from a US recital tour. He is in increasing demand as a conductor, working with the Prague Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra, English National Ballet and Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra.
It was when David heard the brilliant young Serbian accordionist, Miloš Milivojević, that the final piece of the jigsaw fell into place. A laureate of many international competitions, Miloš is a performer of enormous versatility. Still a student at the Royal Academy of Music, he has already had compositions written for him and given many UK premieres, including the first performance of Sequenza No.13 by Luciano Berio. He has performed at the Wigmore Hall and has a growing list of international engagements.
The London Tango Quintet was formed to play in the Studio Music concert series. In their first London appearance, at the Bush Hall on Sunday 18 February, at 7.30pm, they present a programme of classic Piazzolla tangos mixed with classical show pieces by Vivaldi, Mendelssohn and Ravel.
February 15, 2007
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