Antonio Lysy at The Broad: Music from Argentina

Argentina is a land of myth as much as a land of history. It was here that Maria Callas and Enrico Caruso sailed for such memorable performances at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires during their summer vacations. European musicians flocked to Argentina during the Second World War as a safe haven and because they felt at home with the elegance of the European-styled theaters, audiences, and ambiance. Additionally the vastness of the landscape and the huge Argentine ranches gave the country a cultural aspect reminiscent of the famed “American West” of the 1890s. But the open ranges still exist in Argentina today.

Cellist Antonio Lysy accompanied by pianist Bryan Pezzone capture the cultural range of this country in our recording. Lysy chose these particular works because they all draw inspiration from the folk music traditions of Argentina.

Like Bartok in Europe and Copland in the United States, Ginastera served as the Argentine grandfather of a generation of composers who turned folk tunes into concert music that became known as quintessentially Argentine. Ginastera focused on Inca and Gaucho rhythms and melodies, much as Bartok drew inspiration from folk tunes from Eastern Europe. All of the composers on this album follow Ginastera’s lead. The rich and romantic sound of the Argentine savanna (or Pampas) returns in the newly commissioned work by Schifrin. And Antonio evokes the atmosphere of smoke-filled urban dance bars in two famous works by Piazzolla.