The creative connection between Fernando Otero and Victor Villena takes stage again for the 2017-18
season.
Buenos Aires Now is conceptualized around the music of both musicians' hometown, evoking the feel of
chamber music, improvisation and classical contemporary music.
Otero and Villena merge into a full and interactive musical speech, alternating rhythmical and melodic
prominence, providing a fully Argentine aura with emotive phrasing within a lyrical language easily identified
with the tango genre and ranging from heart-felt melodies to fast-paced rhythms, quickly exchanging
leading roles.
The program portraits the sound of Buenos Aires, in which the bandoneon plays a major role while the
piano explores countermelodies, with both instruments building a thick wall of sound and sometimes rising
to particular technical challenges when creating solid soundscapes.
FERNANDO OTERO
Grammy Winner - Warner Music recording artist Fernando Otero is considered by critics as a virtuoso pianist
and a composer who has created his own style, using elements of classical contemporary music and
improvisational jazz, based on the Tango as a primary language. He found his voice as a writer and musician
when, at the urging of one of his music teachers, he began to incorporate the sounds of his native Buenos
Aires into his work. Based in New York, Otero has found correspondingly diverse collaborators, among them
Paquito De Rivera, the Kronos Quartet, Eddie Gomez, and Quincy Jones.
VICTOR HUGO VILLENA
Born in Argentina in 1979, Victor Hugo Villena is one of the world leading bandoneon players. Celebrated by
the international press, the New York Times quotes: "Mr. Villena’s bandoneon expressing extremes of
earthiness and ethereality, an emotional universe unto itself. A master of the instrument». Victor Villena won
the “Best Soloist” award in the National Competition of Cosquin (Argentina) in 1997 when he was only 18
years old.
Victor Villena has performed in venues like Philharmonie de Paris, Teatro La Fenice (Venice), Broadway 54
(New York), Washington’s Synagogue, YIVO’s Center (New York), Frankfurt Alter Oper (Germany), London
Barbican (England), London Queen’s Hall (England) Teatro Bibiana (Italy), Dresden Opera House (Germany),
Koln Philarmonic Hall (Germany).