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Cavatina Duo Plays Astor Piazzolla

Piazzolla / Moliner / Azabagic
Release Date: 06/08/2010 
Label:  Bridge   Catalog #: 9330  
Composer:  Astor Piazzolla
Performer:  Eugenia Moliner,  Denis Azabagic
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cavatina Duo
Number of Discs: 1 
In Stock: Usually ships in 24 hours.  

Notes and Editorial Reviews

Musicianly players … artistic expertise bringing light and shade and creating an admirable sense of atmosphere.

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PIAZZOLLA Libertango. Revirado. Introdución al Angel. Tango-Etudes. Oblivion. Adios Nonino. 4 Estaciones Porteñas • Cavatina Duo • BRIDGE 9330 (58:29)


Even if you are suffering from Piazzolla fatigue, this completely Read more delightful recital is worth considering. If you are an unquenchable fan of the late tango master, this is a no-brainer. The Cavatina Duo consists of Spanish flutist Eugenia Moliner and Bosnian guitarist Denis Azabagic. This is wonderfully alert, dramatically intuitive music-making. These two listen carefully to one another to create sensuous texture and a synergistically expansive range of sound. They are not flashy, certainly a temptation in this music, but smart and almost nonchalantly virtuosic. Bridge’s sound engineering is of demonstration quality. Fans of these instruments, or of the ubiquitous composer, dig in. If, by some small chance, you have missed the Astor Piazzolla phenomenon, here’s a perfect place to dip in.


FANFARE: Peter Burwasser


This disc features an all-Piazzolla programme, in arrangements for flute and guitar. A spirited and energetic performance of Libertango opens, in an effective arrangement by Klaus Jäckle. The Cavatina Duo has built a reputation for performing folk-inspired music from around the world, and they capture the spirit of Piazzolla’s tangos well. Revirado is particularly enjoyable, with excellent technical control, a good sense of duo ensemble and palpable conviction. Introdución al Angel demonstrates flautist Eugenia Moliner’s range of tone and beautifully soaring high register, while the guitar provides a finely judged balance with counter-melodies and rhythmic drive. This is a duo that understands the repertoire and performs with just the right amount of rubato to bring it to life, but without allowing their interpretation to overshadow the composer’s ideas.

The Tango-Etudes, originally composed for solo flute or violin, are expertly arranged and are heard here in a version for flute and guitar by Sergio and Clarice Assad. The arrangement is completely convincing, and the guitar part feels like a natural part of the work. This is another first-rate rendition, with some very good playing throughout and a spellbinding sense of pacing. I particularly enjoyed the percussive guitar writing at the opening of the third etude.

Oblivion is amongst my favourite Piazzolla. This performance is tender and warm, and is executed with control and musicianship. Adios Nonino is another well known work, and this arrangement by Ian Murphy is highly effective. The disc ends with the Cuatro estaciones Porteñas (The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires), which were arranged especially for the Cavatina Duo by Sergio Assad. This features some imaginative playing and well-crafted arrangements, which really help to bring the music to life.

This is an outstanding disc, which held my attention from beginning to end. I was particularly struck by the subtleties of phrasing and variety of musical expression that this duo was able to create within the music of a single composer. Piazzolla’s style is distinct, and yet these two musicianly players were able to enhance his style through their artistic expertise, bringing light and shade to the notes and creating an admirable sense of atmosphere.

-- Carla Rees, MusicWeb International
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Works on This Recording

1.
Libertango by Astor Piazzolla
Performer:  Eugenia Moliner (Flute), Denis Azabagic (Guitar)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cavatina Duo
Period: 20th Century 
Written: Argentina 
2.
Revirado by Astor Piazzolla
Performer:  Eugenia Moliner (Flute), Denis Azabagic (Guitar)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cavatina Duo
Period: 20th Century 
Written: Argentina 
3.
Introducción al Angel by Astor Piazzolla
Performer:  Eugenia Moliner (Flute), Denis Azabagic (Guitar)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cavatina Duo
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1962; Argentina 
4.
Etudes Tanguistiques (6) for Flute solo by Astor Piazzolla
Performer:  Eugenia Moliner (Flute), Denis Azabagic (Guitar)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cavatina Duo
Period: 20th Century 
Written: Argentina 
5.
Enrico IV: Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla
Performer:  Eugenia Moliner (Flute), Denis Azabagic (Guitar)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cavatina Duo
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1984; Argentina 
6.
Adios nonino by Astor Piazzolla
Performer:  Eugenia Moliner (Flute), Denis Azabagic (Guitar)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cavatina Duo
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1961; Argentina 
7.
Las estaciones porteñas (4) by Astor Piazzolla
Performer:  Eugenia Moliner (Flute), Denis Azabagic (Guitar)
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cavatina Duo
Period: 20th Century 
Written: 1967-1970; Argentina 

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review:  ( 1 Customer Review )
 Highway Tango March 7, 2012 By Donna Stevens See All My Reviews "My favorite radio station (101.1 F.M.- Dallas, Texas) always launches my day with musical beauty! As I turn off my alarm clock, my hand finds the switch to my radio where I enjoy beautiful music while dressing, eating breakfast, gathering my days materials and entering my automobile. Immediately, I press the knob of my radio in the car to continue my listening pleasure. This morning as I drove northwest on my county highway to my office in another town, I was introduced to the excitement of the flute and guitar duo by Cavatina...........my, it was difficult to steer on the right side of the road!......that tango melody with the diverse combination of two instruments was absolutely outstanding!.......Upon arrival at my desk, I serched the internet and called my radio station who correctly spelled the artists names and directed me to the title of the album. Thank you for sharing your talents through your music. I intend buying this album." Report Abuse
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