[Tango-L] Review of Ensemble Hyperion at Brussels Tango Festival

[Shahrukh Merchant]

By a quirk of fate (and OK, some personal schedule manipulation on my 
part :-)), I happened to be at the Brussels Tango Festival, which just 
ended yesterday.

I may (or not ... since it would take a while to write ...) make the 
time to post some observations on the festival, but until then, I feel I 
really need to mention the "featured orchestra" of the festival, 
ENSEMBLE HYPERION -- see their website at www.ensemblehyperion.com 
(mostly in Italian). (They are not to be confused with the similarly 
named "Hyperion Ensemble," which is a chamber music ensemble out of 
Salzburg.)

Undoubtedly, they are well-known to European festival goers, but I had 
never heard them (nor, I admit, of them). They are based out of Italy 
and are simply one of the best Tango orchestras I have ever danced to 
(and sacrilege though it may be to say, better than most out of Buenos 
Aires, at least the ones that play at Milongas there)! (Those who know 
me know that I do not make superlative recommendations like this 
lightly, if at all.)

Their actually play SEVERAL golden-era orchestras convincingly 
(especially Pugliese, but Di Sarli and Donato as well, to name just a 
few), and are excellent musicians.

The ensemble comprised one bandoneon (Alfredo Marcucci, who is really 
excellent and a passionate player), two violins, piano, guitar, 
transverse flute and bass. Franco Luciani joined in on some pieces with 
harmonica (gives Hugo Diaz a run for his money ...). They did NOT have a 
vocalist (which admittedly would be a very tricky addition--perhaps they 
are smart in not including one), but I did not really miss that since 
the DJ'ed music had an abundance of the classic vocals.

I would suggest that North American and Asian Tango organizers consider 
inviting them, or coordinate amongst each other (okay, so I'm an 
idealist :-)) so they can justify a North American or Asian regional tour.

Also, while I have not heard any of their recordings on CD, Tango DJs 
may wish to review their recordings to add to the very thinly populated 
genre of "convincing modern recordings of classic-era arrangements."

Shahrukh