Astoria - Seas8ns (2023) [Hi-Res]

Piazzolla's 'Four Seasons of Buenos Aires' paired with 'Four Seasons' by Michel Lysight, composed for and dedicated to the ensemble.

From the title, we might also imagine that Piazzolla is offering us a tango version of Vivaldi's concertos. An arrangement, a remix. Or that he is having fun dropping quotations from Vivaldi's themes into his pieces. He is doing no such thing. Some things Piazzolla's and Vivaldi's works have in common are frequent changes of tempo, strong contrasts of nuance, the use of virtuosity, refreshing unisono passages and, finally, very expressive slow passages. But and this is tango these expressive passages are heart-rending, poignant, even tragic, often associated with a free rhythm, an unidentifiable pulsation and this is really Piazzolla ... This is theatrical music, expressive of intense feelings.

Michel Lysight's (1958) Four Seasons (2016) for accordion, violin, cello, double bass, percussion and piano was composed at the request of accordionist Christophe Delporte for the Astoria Ensemble, to which it is dedicated. The titles of the four movements that make up this work are deliberately enigmatic, but each refer to a particular season. It's for the audience to guess which and why.

Tracklist:
1.01 - Astoria - Otoño Porteño (Las Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas) (5:09)
1.02 - Astoria - Invierno Porteño (Las Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas) (6:09)
1.03 - Astoria - Primavera Porteña (Las Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas) (4:58)
1.04 - Astoria - Verano Porteño (Las Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas) (6:05)
1.05 - Astoria - Oryx (Four Seasons) (4:58)
1.06 - Astoria - Falling Trees (Four Seasons) (5:06)
1.07 - Astoria - Berkeley Rose Garden (Four Seasons) (6:14)
1.08 - Astoria - Cruelest Days (Four Seasons) (4:26)
1.09 - Astoria - Milonga del Trovador (5:24)
1.10 - Astoria - Libertango (5:06)