Accordionist Théo Ould describes this new album as “my most personal — I had never allowed myself to feature the music of Astor Piazzolla. I wanted to raise the accordion above the clichés to concentrate on more classical repertoire”. Théo’s vocation became evident, however, when he heard Piazzolla’s Libertango at the age of 6. Now, 20 years later, this Frenchman from Marseille tackles this music with fervour and exaltation through tailor-made arrangements performed alongside the Quatuor Bilitis and the double bass player Blanche Stromboni, as well as mezzo-soprano Marina Viotti, who appears in a beautiful and heart-warming rendition of Balada para un loco, Piazzolla’s setting of a poem by Horacio Ferrer. Théo Ould is passionate about this music, inviting us to share in his enthusiasm by joining in Ferrer’s Balada: “Climb up into my madman’s tenderness, Put a wig of larks on your head, Fly with me now! Come! Fly! Come!”

Théo Ould – accordion
Quatuor Bilitis – string quartet
Blanche Stromboni – double bass
Marina Viotti – mezzo-soprano