"Piazzolla-studio" Tango Friedrich Lips(accordion), Sviatoslav Lips (piano), Vladislav Igolinsky (violin), Kirill Rodin (cello) and Mark Pekarsky (percussion) Once in a while we hear repertoire by performers who probably have no real reason to perform it except to prove they can do something that is ordinarily done regularly by others. I think this is somewhat the case in this recording. When I first got it I thought to myself, "Oh, just another recording of the famous Piazzolla tangos." Others may have added, also, that it didn't even have a bandoneon on it! Well, let me tell you that this is a tremendously good CD. I was somewhat blown away by not only the musicianship shown by each and every performer, but, also, the beauty and the excitement of the arrangements. These performers understood why these Piazzolla pieces became classics, known and loved by everyone of his admirers throughout the world. They really feel the emotion of this music and they make every phrase sublime. This disc is manufactured by the producing company of Vadim Dubrovitsky and was recorded in the Gnesin Music Academy in 1997. The arranger was Sviatoslav Lips, the son Friedrich Lips and a fine musician in his own right as you will most readily realize in listening to the piano part of the recording. It is one of the most surprising recordings I have heard in that it features the artistry of not only Friedrich Lips on Bayan, but, also four other fantastic musicians more than equal to the tasks presented by the repertoire: Sviatoslav Lips on Piano, Vladislav Igolinsky on Violin, Kirill Rodin on Violincello, and Mark Pekarsky on Percussion. The arrangements bring out the moods of the originals with a spirit of clarity and expression not often heard in the performance of tangos; they also give plenty of measures for technical displays throughout, but always in service of the music at hand. This is superb playing! And it brings on my question of why must anyone say the true tango sound cannot be produced without the bandoneon. Piazzolla undoubtedly would have loved these performances, with or without his bandoneon! You will, too. Reviewed by Joan Cochran Sommers, August 2006 Note: For full biographical information and to order this or any of Friedrich Lips' CDs, see his site at http://www.accordions.com/lips |