VIVAT TANGO!

The Tango Nuevo genre has captivated the accordionist Ladislav Horák and the cellist Petr Nouzovský, two superb Czech musicians of international renown. They have been spreading the word throughout Europe at concerts for years and have now mediated their enchantment on the appositely titled new album Vivat Tango! (SU 4161–2).

We discussed the remarkable album with the two musicians.

How did you arrive at the idea of implementing the Vivat Tango project?

Petr Nouzovský: The desire to record a CD featuring Piazzolla’s music, which Ladislav Horák and I have been performing on Czech and foreign stages for five years now, was enhanced by the possibility of releasing it on the renowned Supraphon label. The individual parts of the jigsaw have fitted into place and we are pleased that our idea has come to fruition.

How did you start working together?

Petr Nouzovský: It began with a composition by Jiří Teml. He was seeking performers for a piece he’d written for cello and accordion. We got together with our instruments, and Jiří Teml’s music freely passed over to that of Piazzolla. In the first year of our co-operation we gave a few dozen concerts together. Piazzolla was new and novel. We are grateful to Jiří Teml and his beautiful music for bringing us together.

Ladislav Horák: Since that time, we have also inspired other Czech composers to write pieces for us – Eduard Douša, Bohuslav Řehoř and Ivan Zelenka – as well as Germany’s Holmer Becker and Michael E. Bauer, and Jeff Hamburg from the Netherlands.

What surprised and what pleased you most when recording the CD?

Ladislav Horák: We felt a bit weird having to record this extremely “steamy” music in a “cold” studio. And we were delighted that we managed to do so beyond the milieu of a ballroom with a typical tango atmosphere. The only common denominator was perhaps the red light at the studio. (laughs)

Petr Nouzovský: We worked really hard during the rehearsals. Nothing took us by surprise. And we were pleased when at the very end of the sessions the recording director Jiří Gemrot said: Gentlemen, it’s done. Thank you! (laughs)

Your CD also contains a piece by Richard Galliano, Piazzolla’s pupil, considered today one of the world’s finest accordionists. Have you met him in person?

Ladislav Horák: I met Richard Galliano at a concert he gave in Castelfidardo, where he was a member of the music competition’s in­ternational jury. He and I both have accordions from this central Italian town famed for instrument making.

Will the Vivat Tango tracks be performed at concerts too?

Petr Nouzovský: Oh yes! Vivat Tango has been successfully performed at concerts for a long time, and the organisers’ interest in this programme indicates that we will be playing it for a long time to come. We are scheduled to give concerts in Sweden and Norway, in the Netherlands (Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam) and Germany (Nuremberg, Regensburg), for instance.

Ladislav Horák: It’s wonderful that music-lovers can now listen to our studio recording, as well as savour the atmosphere of live performances.