The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra brought the stunning sounds of Argentina to the Qatar National Library.
Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra presented a string quartet playing an evening of works by Astor Piazzolla and Alberto Ginastera, offering what could be described as a tasting menu of Argentinian tango.
The quartet of Lorena Manescu and Dimitri Torchinsky on violin, Andrea Mereuta on viola, and Christoph Schmitz on cello led the audience on a journey through tango’s evolution, blending fiery passion with classical precision.
Schmitz playfully introduced each piece as part of a musical feast. Starting with Piazzolla’s chilling “Four for Tango.”
The melancholic “Oblivion” was called “the empanada before the asado.”
The main course, Piazzolla’s Tango Ballet, depicted “the life and mood of Buenos Aires,” while the finale, Libertango, was presented as “the alfajor of the night and Piazzolla’s liberation from the classic tango sound.”
The program also included Ginastera’s complex compositions.
“Don’t run out when you hear this, everything is composed!” Schmitz joked.
He explained how the pieces demanded precision yet left room for the musicians’ individual expression, bringing both challenge and joy to the ensemble.
Violist Andrea Mereuta reflected on the experience, saying it was her first time playing Tango.
“It was great to expand my horizons, and what is also special is that these lovely colleagues of mine are also my friends. We got to experience this together, which is the best part of it,” Mereuta told Doha News.
Schmitz added insight into the unique approach required for tango, acting as a guide to the rest of the quarter as the group’s only Latin American musician.
“I wouldn’t say [I was] teaching, but definitely showing maybe from time to time different styles. What can you do with the bow, with the string, to sound sometimes a bit more metallic, more in the string. Whereas when we perform chamber music, it’s maybe a bit more of what we call a flautando, a more airy sound,” Schmitz said.
“It was definitely a great experience and a beautiful journey we took. Generally speaking, playing chamber music for us as orchestral musicians is something very privileged to do because we get to get back into the soloistic stuff basically. Everyone is playing for themselves, as well as solo parts. So we are exposed. So it brings pressure, beautiful, positive pressure,” he shared with Doha News.
Violinist Lorena Manescu emphasised Piazzolla’s innovation.
“He was a visionary. He elevated tango to an international level, blending modern music, jazz, and emotion. We have just returned from Argentina and had the opportunity to experience these elements firsthand. It feels amazing to convey this freshly to such a warm audience.”
The audience responded with applause that filled the library, proving that music can transform even the quietest spaces.
From the first “empanada” to the final “dessert,” the evening was a feast for the ears, leaving listeners with a deep appreciation for tango’s emotional and technical range.
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