Juan Gelman - from Gotàn, ed. La Rosa blindada, Buenos Aires 1962

Well, yes, it is true: this year is the tenth anniversary of Astor Piazzolla's death. The cultural establishment, the classical music's popstars and the most careful media are preparing the commemoration as needed. The Piazzolla brand wil get a further, and unselfish, rub. And yet, not to lessen the importance of such great musician, we miss much more those young rough poets who, four decennials ago and without the Institutional praise, used to perform their sparkling and premonitory lyrics in the Buenos Aires' underground spots. Their music was that rising Nuevo Tango that would have passed away in their arms shortly after, under the terror of dictatorship and exile.
Digan lo que digan, we need to learn to resist.
Also because it is sure, whatever Gardel might sing, there will be more sorrow and oblivion.

Next summer

During the upcoming and almost habitual summer tour the Nueva Compania Tangueros will stage two different repertory shows and a brand new creation.
The first two integrate the first and the second part respectively of a very personal History of Tango revisited through the best Mariachiara Michieli's choreographies. The title CATALOGO TANGUEROS - The young generation's guide to Tango doesn't give grounds to doubts regarding the Company's intentions.
CATALOGO's Book Number One is dedicated to the two Eduardos of Tango - Arolas and Rovira. The music will be live performed by Trio Esquina leaded by César Stroscio featuring also the Alma String Quartet.
On the other hand, Book Number Two is dedicated to the missing link between Pugliese and Piazzolla, with the music by the Sexteto Canyengue.
Both shows will be danced by the four NCT principal dancers, namely Silvina Aguera, Silvia Vaccaro, Sebastian Romero, Mariano Suazo.
The new creation is named SLUMS - scenes from the underworld. The work is relationed to our deepest feelings, so buried in the "slums of our souls" that are invisible even to ourselves.  Actually, on second thoughts, this is the historical raw matter of Tango. The SLUMS' musics are by Leonard Bernstein - a selection from West Side Story which has been arranged by Carel Kraayenhof for Tango sextet - and by Astor Piazzolla. They will be played by Sexteto Canyengue, with the occasional extension of a guitarist and a percussionist. The Mariachiara Michieli's choreographies will be danced by the NCT principal dancers.
This is the temporary schedule:

Next autumn

Since time immemorial, we the Tangueros got into the habit of breaking the chains with our bare hands. So you can imagine our surprise when someone pops up with an offer we can not turn down easily. They are going to give us an "artistic residence" in Italy; namely in Milano, for the record. This means that, if everything goes off according to plan, we will move from Buenos Aires to Milano very soon with our principal dancers and with our ballet school. Right after our summer tour, several didactic activities will be launched. Here are some of them:

Besides, many initiatives will be extended to other cities in Lombardia and North Italy.
This is a golden opportunity for everyone aiming to study with Mariachiara Michieli, the NCT's Artistic Director and Choreographer, who is among the leading figures in the legendary Villa Urquiza style.
Stay in touch for further news.

Past springtime

We are really late with The Tangueros Quarterly Review sixth number, whose on-line issueing was set, as well as the stabs, for the Ides of March.
We apologize with our readers and ask them again their unwilling trust.
Although we don't know yet when it will be ready, we are at least able to give you some advance informations on the contents.

Gentlemen of Fortuyn

We take the opportunity to draw our readers' attention to two new releases.
The first one bares the title of "Les Tangos de Corto" and is by César Stroscio & Esquina.
It is the new recording of some original pieces dedicated to Corto Maltese which had formerly been included in the "Tango" CD Book by Lizard Edizioni & Materiali Sonori.
Several famous tunes from the Trio Esquina' s repertoire, such as the Rovira's "A Luis Luchi" and the Piazzolla's "El Penultimo", are in the album, also with a sensational Pino Enriquez's composition called "Casi lloro" and a hidden surprise in the end.

The second CD is by Sexteto Canyengue and the very prestigious Concertgebouw Orchestra and Choir from Amsterdam. The album is mostly dedicated to Astor Piazzolla, and especially to Adios Nonino, and includes also some Carel Kraayenhof's original arragements of "Milonga para Thirza" and "Ma y Pa", which is here in simplified version for those very learned non-tangueros.
The CD's name is "Tango Royal" and it is dedicated, as well as the previous "Tango Maxima", to the democratic reigning house of the Netherlands. Needless to say, it is already in the top charts.