Park Ji-won is a writer for The Korea Times who has been covering a wide range of topics from Korea’s culture to its politics. An avid journalism enthusiast to the core, Ji-won brings a thoughtful and unique perspective to every topic she covers. On weekends, you'll often find her contemplating life’s purpose on a yoga mat — with a cup of quality tea in hand. A native Korean speaker by birth and fluent in English through her work, she went to college in Japan and is learning Chinese and French — hoping to add Polish, Russian and Thai to the mix.
Quinteto Astor Piazzolla holds national tour in Korea
From left, music director Julian Vat, violinist Serdar Geldymuradov, pianist Barbara Varassi Pega, double bassist Daniel Falasca and baritone Lee Eung-kwang pose during a press conference held in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Bom Arts Project
By Park Ji-won
By Park Ji-won
Quinteto Astor Piazzolla, a repertory group founded by Laura Escalada Piazzolla, widow of the legendary tango composer Astor Piazzolla, will tour Korea as part of its world tour marking the 100th anniversary of Piazzolla's birth. It has been the first performance since its visit to Korea in 2019 and the only Asian stop for the international tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
In five cities, Seoul (Sept. 28), Daegu (Suseong Artpia, Oct. 2), Jeonju (Sori Arts Center of Jeollabuk-do, Oct. 3), Gwangju (Gwangju Culture & Arts Center, Oct. 4) and Incheon (Arts Center Incheon, Oct. 8), they will play an 80-minutes program of famous Piazzolla pieces. The program includes famous pieces popular among Koreans such as “Adios Nonino,” the music used by figure skater Kim Yuna in her free skating performance at the 2014 Winter Olympics and “Verano Porteno (Summer)” and “Invierno Porteno (Winter).”
The group has also been collaborating with Korean musicians, such as ajaeng (traditional Korean string instrument) master Kim Young-gil and baritone Lee Eung-kwang. The group will perform “Balada para un Loco” with Lee. With Kim, the group will play a part of Heungboga, one of five surviving works of pansori (traditional narrative music). Both Koreans will join them to perform “Oblivion.”
Julian Vat, the music director of the performance, said the ensemble is carrying on the legacy of the late composer and showing the best versions of his works and tango by performing them as a quintet.
“We formed a quintet to best show the music of Piazzolla. Having piano, violin, guitar, double bass and bandoneon in the quintet could express the original form of Piazzolla's music. When he was alive, he also formed a quintet with the same instruments. There are many groups who play Piazzolla's music through various interpretations but we continue to do our best to make his legacy survive,” music director Julian Vat said during a press conference, Monday.
“Tango is the unique music of Buenos Aires and a mixture of various genres including classical music. It is also something needed to be interpreted like jazz. Piazzolla largely contributed to the spread of the musical genre throughout the world.”
Daniel Falasca, double bassist of the group said “The music of Piazzolla is about Buenos Aires. But it is also about humanity and especially our emotions such as passion, love and sadness.”