and

Music Performance Reviews

Tango and Beyond - Music at the Argentine Consulate featuring Daniel Binelli, Polly Ferman and Juan Lazaro Mendolas

Daniel Binelli on Bandoneón
www.danielbinelli.com
Binelli@ciudad.com.ar

Polly Ferman on Piano
www.pollyferman.com
pollyferman@aol.com

Guest Artist Juan Lazaro Mendolas on Quena
charcoyo@aol.com

Performed at The Argentine Consulate
12 West 56th Street, NY, NY 10019
212.603.0440

By Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower
November 8, 2002

PROGRAM FOR NOVEMBER 8, 2002

FIRST PART

COBIAN- CADICAMO - Los Mareados (Binelli)
ANIBAL TROILO - La Ultima Curda (Binelli)
ASTOR PIAZZOLLA - Triunfal (Binelli)
ASTOR PIAZZOLLA - Chiquilin de Bachin (Binelli, Mendolas,)
GUSTAVO LEGUIZAMON - Zamba de Don Juan Panadero, arr. Lilian Saba (Ferman, Mendolas)
ANIBAL TROILO - La Trampera (Ferman, Mendolas)
IGOR STRAVINSKY - Tango (Ferman)
ASTOR PIAZZOLLA - Oblivion (Ferman)
HORACIO SALGAN - A Don Agustin Bardi (Ferman)

SECOND PART

ASTOR PIAZZOLLA - Verano Porteno (Binelli, Ferman)
DANIEL BINELLI - Imagenes (Binelli, Ferman)
Prelude
Grand Tango
Milonga
ALBERTO GINASTERA - Argentine Dances (Binelli, Ferman)
Dance of the old cowherd
Dance of the graceful wench
Dance of the shrewd gaucho
ASTOR PIAZZOLLA - Allegro Tangabile (Binelli, Ferman)
DANIEL BINELLI - Al Pintor Aldo Severi (Binelli, Ferman)

I first met this amazing duo last winter, also at the Argentine Consulate, and I was so moved by their interpretations of Astor Piazzolla, by the potent and wild compositions of Argentinean Daniel Binelli, by the intense sophistication and sharp communication between Binelli and his captivating and eloquent partner, pianist, Uruguayan Polly Ferman, that I immediately purchased their CD, Imagenes, and continued to capture those rare concert moments in the privacy of my living room or my Volvo. On the second hearing of Imagenes, as well as the comprehensive repertoire, listed above, I was, if possible, even more impressed with the sheer physicality and bravura of the performances, especially with the brilliant addition of Juan Lazaro Mendolas, on Quena, which is a wooden flute, and, when expertly played by Mendolas, achieves the effect of listening to a canary in the forest. Impossible as it may seem, these three superbly talented musicians played solos and duos in interchanging fashion, with a different instrument expressing the theme in each piece.

Daniel Binelli is a world-renowned bandoneónist and composer, who once toured with Astor Piazzolla and his New Tango Sextet. He has recorded over 30 CD's related to tango music and originally made his debut with Osvaldo Pugliese's Orchestra in 1968, with whom he worked for 14 years. Polly Ferman is also an internationally known pianist, trained in classical repertoire. She is a leading interpreter of the music of the Americas and has recorded extensively. Juan Lazaro Mendolas is Bolivian born, but lived for many years in Mendoza, Argentina. He creates and develops improvisational music, reminiscent of indigenous music of the Andes.

Binelli, on solo bandoneón, fills the grandly appointed Consulate Auditorium with passion and pathos, the emotions of Tango, with a slightly dissonant and extremely fascinating sound. His endings are crisp and percussive. He opens to full length, over his bent knee, the entire Bandoneon, to give the listener a fully satisfying sensation. This is a musician of emotional depth, an extraordinary capacity to draw the audience in and suspend them in the moment of musical passion. Ferman, in duos, compliments either Binelli or Mendolas, and, in solos, captivates the audience with her poise, her own passion, and her serious, professional style, which is interchangeable with her engaging commentary and humor. My favorite Piazzolla piece, Oblivion, of which I have several interpretations, including Gidon Kremer, on violin (See Kremer Review), so moved the audience, that we found ourselves stretched toward the brilliantly black lacquered Yamaha, as if the umbilical cord of Tango tightly transported us to another time, another place. Mendolas, on Quena, as a canary, or as a satyr in romantic art, was a perfect compliment to either Binelli or Ferman, in his totally confident and connected demeanor.

Encores were enthusiastically received, as was the Wine Reception. Photos of Binelli and Ferman, as well as photos of the Reception and of the traveling Deputy Consuls General at dinner and at a Milonga, follow.