Astor Piazzolla, an Argentinian composer, was advised by his professor Nadia Boulanger to focus his creative potential on tango, despite his music being negatively received in his homeland.
Composition History
Maurice Ravel's 'La Valse' was rejected for stage performance by Serge Diaghilev, director of the Ballets Russes, leading to a complete breakdown of their relationship.
Recording & Production
This album features three compositions by Astor Piazzolla, all arranged for two pianos by the Argentinian piano virtuoso Pablo Ziegler.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Ravel described 'La Valse' as 'a kind of apotheosis of the Viennese waltz,' aiming to evoke a fantastic and fatalistic emotion set in an imperial palace around 1855.
Compositional Technique
Piazzolla's 'Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas' (Four Seasons of Buenos Aires) is a cycle of compositions that, like Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons', are now often treated as a single suite, though this is not a strict rule.
Performer Biography
The La Valse '89 Piano Duo, formed by husband-and-wife Anna Haas-Niewiedział and Piotr Niewiedział, has performed internationally and collaborated with various ensembles, including the Poznań Nightingales choir.
Critical Reception
Contrary to Ravel's intention, 'La Valse' was widely perceived as a metaphor for the fall of Europe after World War I and a symbol of the waltz genre's rise and demise.
