“Maria de Buenos Aires”
On March 8, 9, 10, and 11, with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Georgia and the Tbilisi City Hall, the Tbilisi State Chamber Orchestra – “Georgian Sinfonietta” – presents Astor Piazzolla’s tango opera “María de Buenos Aires”.
Astor Piazzolla, known in his native Argentina as El Gran Astor (“The Great Astor”), is one of the most significant tango composers of the 20th century. While playing the bandoneón, he revolutionized traditional tango by incorporating contemporary styles, merging elements of jazz and classical music. This fusion gave birth to a new genre known as Nuevo Tango (“New Tango”).
Piazzolla brought tango from nightclubs to classical concert stages, transforming it into a genre appreciated by music lovers of all tastes.
“María de Buenos Aires” is the only operetta written in the tango opera genre. Its premiere took place in Buenos Aires in 1968. The opera’s libretto was written by Horacio Ferrer, and María’s first performer was Amelita Baltar, who later became Piazzolla’s wife.
Composed in a completely new style, opera-tango, the work did not gain immediate popularity. It tells the story of María, a girl born in the outskirts of Buenos Aires, her life, death, and resurrection. Seventeen different scenes depict the various stages of María’s life.
At the same time, “María de Buenos Aires” narrates the history of tango itself: its birth in the suburbs of Buenos Aires, its rise in brothels and cabarets, its spread to city centers, its decline over time, and its eventual rebirth as a new genre.
On March 8, 9, 10, and 11, with Piazzolla’s fiery rhythms, the exceptional performance of musicians, and an original directorial vision, “María de Buenos Aires” will come to life on the Grand Stage of the Kote Marjanishvili Theatre, marking its opera-tango premiere.
Performers:
“Georgian Sinfonietta”
Conductor – Cornelia von Kerssenbrock (Germany)
Narrator – Carlos Klaumannsmoller Mora (Spain)
María – Mariam Chukhrukidze / Tamar Gochashvili
The voice of a payador/ Sleepy Buenos Aires Sparrow/ First Psychoanalyst/ A Voice of That Sunday – Tornike Sakhokia
Choir Director – Shio Abrakhamia
Bandoneón – Marcelo Nisinman (Argentina)
Solo Piano – Tamar Licheli
Piano – Teona Mikeladze
Guitar – Vache Laliashvili
Flute – Irakli Evstaphishvili
Percussion – Giorgi Melikishvili
Director – Davit Sakvarelidze
Assistant Director – Tata Popiashvili
Artist – Nino Kobiashvili
Choreographer – Mariana Fernández (Argentina)