7. An Argentinian in Ekaterinburg
Tango in the Urals
Almost a week ago, on August 10th, I hopped on a cheap 2-hour flight from Moscow, happily skipping the alternative: a 37-hour train ride.
My friend Lilia picked me up at the airport and hosted me at her beautiful apartment, just 20 minutes from the city center. Best of all? She has a piano! I’m incredibly thankful for her hospitality; she showed me around the city, and I finally got to know Ekaterinburg properly, a place where Tangel Trio and I spent less than 24 hours last year.
The main mission of this trip was to collaborate with Andrey Kolyasnikov and his “Fantango” ensemble.
The setup was tight. I only received the final program once I arrived, and we had just one rehearsal scheduled for the day before the show. While working with pro musicians usually makes this easy, it still felt a bit uncertain.
We rehearsed at the main auditorium of the city’s conservatory. Andrey is something of a prodigy. At just 26 years old, he not only teaches at the conservatory but also conducts the most important philharmonic orchestras in the Urals, leading works by Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, and other greats.
Fortunately, the chemistry with the Fantango guys was instant, and I immediately felt relaxed about the show.
The concert at EverJazz was a massive success. The club was packed to capacity, and the audience loved our 1.5-hour set of traditional and modern tango. The full ensemble was incredible: vibraphone, percussion, violin, double bass, accordion, bandoneon, and piano.
For me, it is always a pleasure to share the music of my country with musicians from other cultures who truly appreciate it. It was also my first time playing alongside a bandoneon. Hearing it live, right next to me, was a unique experience, it has one of the saddest, most beautiful sounds in the world.
Tonight, I board a 13-hour train to Omsk for the next project. I’m leaving Ekaterinburg with beautiful memories, the high of a great concert, and new friends with whom I hope to collaborate again soon.
Hasta luego! 🙂