Tomás Cotik, violin – Piazzolla Buenos Aires; with the Martingale Ensemble (Naxos)
Argentine violinist Tomás Kotik has lived in many different places around the globe, most recently in Madrid doing residencies and finishing various projects. One of those projects is a new release celebrating the music of Astor Piazzolla. It’s called Piazzolla Buenos Aires.
“It's my first recording for solo violin and string orchestra, and that's for me, very special,” Kotik says. “So the the instrumentation gives you possibilities. And it was so beautiful to add all these new pieces that expand the repertoire of the canon.”
What was most challenging about creating these arrangements?
“Each instrument of the traditional tango nuevo quintet, which is double bass, piano, electric guitar, bandoneon and violin, has very unique articulations. It [was] a nice challenge to imitate with the string orchestra.”
One of the pieces on the album is Resurrection of an Angel. What makes it so impactful?
“This is the fourth and last piece of a series called the Series of the Angel. This is the resurrection of an angel who died in a knife fight in Buenos Aires. What I think is so beautiful about this piece is its really comforting sound. And the beginning, [there is] this bell that strikes and tells you the world is OK.”
You also have produced a three-part documentary sharing the immigrant story of Piazzolla. What fascinates you the most about his story?
“Piazzolla was born to Italian immigrants who moved to New York. He lived surrounded by immigrants of all possible denominations. Then his family would migrate back and forth from Argentina; each of these moves influenced his music, his language.
“Then he goes to Nadia Boulanger, a famous teacher of so many great composers of the last century, and he creates a very unique language informed by all those influences. So I hear that immigrant story so clearly and so positively in Piazzolla, and I feel like it reflects a lot of my feelings at different points as an immigrant.”
Resources
Tomás Cotik, violin – Piazzolla Buenos Aires; with the Martingale Ensemble (Naxos)
Tomás Cotik, violin – Piazzolla Buenos Aires; with the Martingale Ensemble (Amazon)
Tomás Cotik, violin (official site)
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