Our Tango

Chamber music, composed for small ensembles of instrumentalists, is intimate and suited to the expression of subtle and refined musical ideas.

That explains why the “Strolling Classical Nights” series presented at the Chamber Hall of Shenzhen Concert Hall fosters interactions and a sense of exclusivity, allowing the audience to become part of the spectacle and always return for more. The first of the series this year will arrive this Friday, inviting attendees to a whimsical rendezvous with tango.

Tango, with its fluid and intricate steps, originated in spontaneous performances around 1880 in Buenos Aires, winning hearts with its quick rhythm and fervent passion. In the early 1900s, tango became widely accepted; and by 1915, was a craze in fashionable European circles. The first tango music by known composers was published in 1910.

The global captivation with tango has given rise to an expansive community of aficionados and fostered the blossoming of artists, ensembles, and a diversity of tango music, among which the composer Astor Piazzolla stands paramount. A milestone moment for tango in China occurred in 1959, when the venerable Osvaldo Pugliese, a key figure in Argentine tango, introduced its stirring melodies to China on a tour across over 20 cities.

Friday’s concert will feature the Our Tango orchestra, first founded in 2011 by bandoneon player Yu Jian with a few friends. Yu was a first prizewinner at the Lanciano International Accordion Competition in Italy in 2015 and toured extensively in China. The ensemble also consists of saxophone player Tian Long, violinist Zhao Huan, contrabassist Wang Yuecong, keyboarder Li Guoyao, and jazz drummer Lyu Xiaotian.

The musicians will showcase a spectrum of tango styles, including Piazzolla’s virtuosic piece “Escualo” (meaning “Shark”), “I Will Wait for You,” the poignant theme of Cannes winner “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” (1964), and Jonas Tarm’s “Las Ruinas Circular”meant as a tribute to Borges. And of course, fans will hear the time-honored tango classic “Free Tango” and “Oblivion.” As Yu reflects, “Only in tango can one experience the intimate sensation comparable to hearing a loved one’s heartbeats and sighs in the embrace of darkness.”

Time: 7:30 p.m., March 15

Tickets: 80-280 yuan

Venue: Shenzhen Concert Hall, Futian District (深圳音樂廳)

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宮站), Exit D