Tango on the Water
When the school year ends, water and sand get warm in a friendly way, and crowds of inhabitants of Zagłębie make their way to Lake Pogoria III for leisure. On Friday, June 24th, most of them stayed on a bit longer, because soon after dark, the stage set on the pier began to resound with tango: both instrumental and vocal pieces, tales of love and jealousy, feelings familiar to ” the beggar and the king”.
Text: Tomasz Grząślewicz; Photos: Radek Struzik Fotografika – rstruzik.com
On Stage…
Fourmat Gabriel Quartet performed on the stage at the pier. The band is composed of: Gabriel Koszela – oboe, Jacek Gwizdon – cello, Ronald Tuczykont – double bass
Tomasz Picz – accordion, Klaudiusz Jania – piano & arrangements. We also heard soloists Aleksandra Stokłosa and Roksana Majchrowska.
…and Off Stage
The concert attracted a large audience: on deck chairs, on towels, on sand. Since we celebrated Midsummer Night only a couple of days before, there was some symbolic fire burning along the beach.
Astor Piazzola
A significant part of the concert was filled with the pieces of the Argentinian composer and musician, Astor Piazzola, who Piazzola revolutionised tango. He was a student of famous Nadia Boulanger who encouraged him to turn to the music of his native country. Drawing inspiration from jazz and classical music, he developed a style known as nuevo tango.
During the concert we heard ‘Tango Apasionado’, Piazzola’s most famous piece – ‘Libertango’ and ‘Invierno Porteno’, a musical portrait of winter from the set “The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires”.
Tales of Love and Jealousy
Why is tango so popular? For jealousy knows a lot of pain. The beggar and the king both know its name, say the lyrics of ‘Tango Jalousie’ written by Jacob Gade. Last night you only danced with her again, complained Anna German in ‘Tango d’Amore’. I saw you secretly cuddling her hand. Simple stories that everyone of us has lived through, love and jealousy, joy and pain, captivated the audience under the June sky at Pogoria III.
Text: Tomasz Grząślewicz
Photos: Radek Struzik Fotografika – rstruzik.com
Photo editing: Rafał Opalski
Organiser: Zagłębie Palace of Culture
Co-organiser: City Hall in Dąbrowa Górnicza
Partner: Silesia Institute for Promotion and Propagation of Music
