An Encounter with ASTOR PIAZZOLLAThe Man and His Music

An Encounter with ASTOR PIAZZOLLAThe Man and His Music

FEATURING

Katie Lansdale, violinBrandt Fredriksen, piano

JP Jofre, bandoneonRitsuko Sato, Karina Romero,

Dardo Galletto, dancersLesley K, narrator

Directed by Barbara GannenWritten by Lesley K

Presented by Dardo Galletto StudiosDardo Galletto, Artistic Dance Director

THE SETTING

New York City, Argentina, and the recesses of Astor Piazzolla’s mind. 1950s-present.

THE PERFORMANCE

DANCES Michelangelo - Dardo Galletto

Llueve sobre Santiago - Dardo & Karina Romero Oblivion - Dardo & Ritsuko Sato

NARRATIVELesley K & Musicians

CONCERTMuerte del AngelMilonga del Angel

Adios NoninoOblivion

Primavera

All music composed by Astor Piazzollawith the exception of Primavera by JP Jofre.

stor Pantaleon Piazzolla was one the most complex and controversial figures in 20th century music. ABorn in Argentina in 1921, the son of a barber, Piazzolla rose

to unprecedented heights as a composer of what was historically perceived to be a minor musical form, the Tango. He spent much of his childhood on the Lower East Side of New York City, primed for a life of crime like many of his friends. Instead, he discovered music. By sheer force of will, ambition and an unyielding passion, he began an almost picaresque journey towards the fulfillment of his dreams. On the way he encountered some of the leading figures in 20th century music, each of whom transformed him in an indelible way. His is an Horatio Alger story writ large. Was his music classical? Was it jazz? Was it even Tango? Maestro, Why Don’t You Play A Tango! is an impression of a life – a snapshot – of this singular figure. We invite you to be swept away into the romance of Piazzolla and his Tango.

– Lesley KNew York City, September 15, 2012

ike Mahler, like Brecht, his soul is vast and imperfect…. Astor Piazzolla's art came into our Northern Hemisphere Lconsciousness at roughly the same time as that of Neruda,

Marquez, Vargas Llosa, Borges and as the many other startling Latin American literary voices began to penetrate our normally insular ways of viewing the world. Their work shocked us with its mixture of brutality, magic, sensuality and humane honesty. The vitality of their expressive world, its emotional range, its unblinking vision of the human condition, its humor in the face of crushing economic and political weights, gave us a shock like a brilliant, life-giving jab of pain. In the musical world alone, the discovery of Piazzolla was like the finding of some exotic and dangerous potency drug, a drug that bring with the double-edged sword of ecstasy andthe bitterest of remorse.

– John Adams, from the liner notes to Gidon Kremer’s El Tango

MILESTONES. Clockwise from top left: Piazzolla’s

childhood home at 313 E. 9th St. on New York’s Lower East Side, with Nadia Boulanger in 1955, with his quintet in 1963,

on stage in 1990.

American new works as well as Georgia State University in THE ARTISTSthe complete trios of Robert Atlanta, Georgia. He is also a Schumann. member of the Pre-College Lansdale is currently on the faculty at Manhattan School of faculty at the Hartt School in Music since 1994.Hartford, Connecticut.

Dardo Galletto never expected to be directing a modern dance company so early in his career. But since arriving in the U.S. from Argentina, the growing

Katie Lansdale, a highly desire to express “the language accomplished soloist and JP Jofre is a winner of the of movement” compelled him to chamber musician, and teacher, National Prize of the Arts Grant found the New Generation performs actively both in Brandt Fredriksen performs at in Argentina. Ever since Dance Company in 2003. Dardo America and Europe. She has major venues and universities arrived in New York uses his strong ballet and appeared as concerto soloist throughout North America, from his humble upbringing in modern dance background to with the National Symphony, the Europe and Asia. His solo recital Argentina, he has been bring the traditional tango idiom Cleveland Chamber Symphony, debuts were held in Weill Hall at repeatedly highlighted by the to another level, portraying the the Baltimore Symphony, the Carnegie Hall and Gasteig New York Times. Mr. Jofre has complexity of human interaction New York Repertory Orchestra, Cultural Center in Munich, taken his form of contemporary and experience.the Austin Mozart Orchestra, Germany. tango to some of the most In addition to creating works the NYC Spectrum Orchestra. He has been sponsored on important venues in Asia, for New Generation, Dardo Recent recitals and guest several occasions by the US and Europe, America and the danced and toured with the Nai artist venues have included the China Foundation to perform Caribbean as soloist, composer Ni Chen Dance Company in Cleveland Museum of Art, the and give master classes and arranger. He has major arts venuesPhillips Collection (DC), the throughout China including collaborated with the Baltimore throughout the United States, Palais de l’Europe (Paris), Merkin Beijing, Shenzhun, Shanghai, and Symphony Orchestra, Paquito D' Europe and Asia. Hall, and Jordan Hall in Boston. Shenyang. Rivera Sextet, Nina Beilina, Dardo is from Cordoba, Lauded for her performances of An active chamber musician, Dartmouth Wind Symphony Argentina, where he began Bach, she has performed the Fredriksen is a performing Orchestra, Westchester Jazz acting at the age of 12. Originally complete solo Bach works in member of Ensemble Respiro in Orchestra San Juan National studying dance as a supplement concert over twelve times, in New York City. He performs Symphony Orchestra, and I to his acting, he gradually venues ranging from Argentina frequntly with members of the soloist di Perugia, among many recognized it as his true passion to Utah to Washington, D.C. New York Philharmonic and has others. and began to train intensely. Reviewing her Bach CD for been heard frequently on radio Mr. Jofre has also received Dardo graduated from a 3-Cyberphunx Music, American and TV in the United States, commissions from many festivals year program at the prestigious Record Guide wrote simply, Greece, and China, including live and orchestras such as the Teatro General San Martin “This is one of the best appearances on NPR, WQXR- Umbria Jazz Festival, American school of dance in Buenos Aries, recordings there are of this FM with Robert Sherman, and Virtuosi, and Bachanalia Taiwan. studying ballet, modern, jazz, music.” This CD is available on Beijing TV. In 2006, he recorded J.P. Jofre's first CD features and composition. He also studied Amazon.com. the solo piano music for the 11-time Grammy Winner at the Teatro Colon and coached Grand prizewinner at both documentary film, Sonia, Paquito D' Rivera, who recorded with leading ballet masters of the Yellow Spring and Fischoff produced by Lucy Kostelanetz. Primavera, an original Argentina including Haichi National Chamber Competi- A Munz Award recipient from composition of Mr. Jofre. Acamine, Enrique Lommi, and tions, Ms. Lansdale is a frequent The Juilliard School, Dr. Sample reviews: Olga Ferri. guest on chamber series, Fredriksen holds a Doctor of “...the Argentine bandoneón, After graduation, Dardo was collaborating with Yo Yo Ma, Musical artfully played by J. P. Jofre ..."- – invited to become a member of Felix Galimir and Donald Arts degree from the State New York Times, 5/17/2011 the world-renowned Ballet Weilerstein. As a member of the University of New York at Stony “...Back after playing the night Argentino, directed by Julio Lions Gate Trio for twenty years, Brook, a Master of Music degree before with Paquito D’Rivera, Bocca, and toured with the she has toured America and from The Juilliard School and a Jofre impresses us again with his company for one year. Europe frequently. Now in Bachelor of Music from Indiana mastery on the bandoneon in a In late 2001, Dardo moved to residence at Hartt and Yale, the University. He has also studied at piece with tango flavor…” – New York City, and began Trio’s concert tours have taken the Liszt Academy of Music in Puerto Rico Jazz, 6/06/2010 performing with a number of them to festivals in France and Budapest, Hungary. “JP Jofre has transformed U.S. modern and ballet Finland, as well as tours of As educator, Dr. Fredriksen himself into a bandoneon player companies before founding New Belgium and Germany. They serves as Associate Professor of of International reach” – Diario Generation. have recorded French and Piano and Chamber Music at de Cuyo (Argentina), 5/24/2010 Dardo is currently one of

Juan Pablo Jofre

New York’s leading tango Most recently, she was dancers and has created a unique associate producer of a two part method for teaching tango documentary special for PBS on SPECIAL technique, combining elements forgiveness and reconciliation, of different dance disciplines and Helen Whitney's A Time to Love THANKSemphasizing the understanding of and a Time to Hate. energy flow. Between 2002 and Lesley has been the cantorial

Dardo Galetto2010 he teached both tango and soloist of New York’s Congre-

Karina Romeroballet to professionals and gation Da'at Elohim since 2006. students at the Sandra Cameron Her experience translating Dance Center and Alvin Ailey personal narrative into vivid story Dance Theatre in New York telling coupled with her love of City. music inspired this collaboration In 2010 he established his with violinist Katie Lansdale,

Bill Weber, graphic designer, own dance studio, located in the Brandt Fredriksen and JP Jofre.

billweberstudios.comheart of Times Square, where he

Myra Schechtman, for support continues developing his unique

and friendship at every vision of Tango.

harrowing turn.Laszlo Pongracz, set construction Barbara Saraintaris, who made it all work.

OPENING NIGHT

Barbara Gannen teaches at the Saturday, September 15, 2012 renowned Margie Haber Studio Dardo Galletto Studios

Karina Romero, originally from and is a Professor at Santa 151 West 46th StreetArgentina, is the Executive Monica College. Barbara has a New York, New York 10036 Director of Dardo Galletto B.F.A. in Theater Arts from www.dardogallettostudios.comStudios and New Generation Ithaca College and an M.A. from Dance Company. Hunter College where she She has studied with the most honed her directorial skills under influential tango teachers in the the tutelage of Harold Clurman world: Graciela Gonzalez, Mingo of the Group Theater. and Ester Pugliese, Gustavo Barbara has worked as an Naveira, Osvaldo Zotto, Luis actress, director, teacher, and Solanas, Vilma & Fernando acting coach in New York, Gallera, Omar Vega and Dardo Chicago, and Los Angeles. Her Galletto. work with actress Nicolette She has performed in many Sheridan earned Ms. Sheridan an tango shows and festivals. She is Emmy nomination.a skilled organizer and motivator In addition to her artistic and who coordinates tango teaching endeavors, Barbara was workshops with exceptional the VP of Development for Bette teachers from Argentina like Lesley K has had an Midler during which time the film Carlos Copello, Graciela extraordinary and varied career Beaches was developed.Gonzalez, Guillermina Quiroga, in film and music. Beginning as a Barbara has been a guest Leandro Oliver & Laila Rezk, literary agent in Los Angeles, she lecturer at AFI, USC, and UCLA’s Francisco Forquera and the moved to New York 25 years graduate Writing and Directing outstanding couple: Gabriel ago to work in documentary film. programs and a guest artist for Misse & Analia Centurion. Her first film assignment was AFTRA and SAG Conservatory

on the influence of the Bauhaus Seminars. Last fall Barbara in America; since then, she has directed John Pollono’s Thicker worked on documentaries as Than Water to critical acclaim. It diverse as serious mental illness, was the LA Weekly’s pick of the the class sytem in Great Britain, week. the PEN writers conference, In 2008, Barbara was honored infidelity, the spiritual aftershocks by Women in Theater for Out-of 9/11, and the Mormons. standing Achievement in the Arts.

Fernando Gonzalez, translator of Astor Piazzolla, A Memoir by Natalio Gorin, for his wise counsel.The Karsten Family

Ritsuko Sato Arpon studied ballet with Toshiaki Hatasa and Ayako Ogawa in her homeland of Japan. She has toured nationally with Japanese Pop Star Mika Nakashima. In the U.S. she is the principal dancer with Albano Ballet and the New Generation Dance Company. Mrs. Arpon has worked and studied with some of the most distinguished names in the tango world as well as taken numerous workshops in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is also an emerging choreographer in New York where she has produced her own works at the Baryshnikov Arts Center and Ballet Arts City Center.