Tango Real - Tango Argentino from Berlin
TANGO REAL
was put together in 1994 as "Orquesta Tipica de Berlin" by the
bandoneon player Paul Raackow, pianist Robert Schmidt and double-bass
player Michael Benter. As one of the few real tango orchestras
outside Argentina, and with its very own style, the sextet's two
bandoneons, two violins, piano and double-bass was a throw back
to the orchestral tradition of the instrumental tango music from
Rio de la Plata in Buenos Aires. However, famed orchestras at
the height of the tango heyday, such as those of Osvaldo Pugliese
or Annibal Troilo, were also a source of inspiration and orientation
for TANGO REAL - in the 1940s tango was primarily an urban dance
music performed by the most talented of musicians.
TANGO REAL`s arrangements combine the essence of Tango Argentino
- the pulse, the sorrow and its emotional intensity together with
the musicians` personal expressions. For Tango Real, meeting and
playing together with such well-known tango musicians as Rodolfo
Mederos or Nestor Marconi is just as important as the communication
with the audience, whether at tango balls, concert halls or major
tango festivals.
PAUL RAACKOW - Bandoneon
has been involved in Argentinean tango music of the 30s and 40s
since 1984. During his stays in Argentina he further developed
his understanding of the 'tango argentino' by working with, and
learning from, professional tango musicians such as Nestor Marconi,
Osvaldo Montes and Rodolfo Mederos.
His first tango formation, 'Neue Tangos' was established after
working with various tango singers in Germany and abroad. He was
the founder and arranger of the internationally-renowned tango
orchestra 'Tango Real' . He has appeared on Argentinean television
and is one of the few well-known German bandoneon players to have
made guest appearances as a tango musician at international festivals.
His own solo-CD 'Mi Refugio' has been released by WeltWunder Records too.
MATTHIAS LEUPOLD - Violin
Matthias Leupold began studying the violin in 1982 at Hochschule
der Künste, Berlin under Hans Maile and attained the grade "Very
Good" in the final examination. He received lessons from Nathan
Milstein and Ruggiero Ricci on several occasions. Even during
his university studies he played with Orchester der Deutschen
Oper, Berlin, the German Symphony Orchestra, Berlin and the German
Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra, Frankfurt. Matthias Leupold has
been a member of the ensemble Oriol, Berlin since 1993. His commitment
to modern and contemporary music lead to the establishment of
the Modern Art Sextet. The compositions dedicated to the sextet
were celebrated with a premiere performance. His many solo recordings
have been released on CD or broadcast as radio productions.
ROBERT SCHMIDT - Piano
studied classical piano at the Cologne College of Music under
Professor Aloys Kontasky. He even gave live performances and appeared
on television while still at university, not only as a soloist
but also as part of a duo. Following the conclusion of his studies,
his musical interests initially turned to jazz and improvised
music. He discovered tango as a result of his interest in the
works of Astor Piazolla. In 1994 he formed the ensemble TANGO
REAL. Concert trips as a tango pianist took him throughout Europe
and also to Uruguay and Argentina. During such tours Robert schmidt
played with famous Argentinean musicians which included appearances
on wellknown Argentinean television shows. Just recently he recorded
a Duo-CD with former band member Peter Reil under the name of
Puro Apronte.
PETER BLAZEOWSKY - double bass
Peter Blazeowsky studied double-bass at Hochschule für Musik (HfM)
in Dresden. His studies were followed by an engagement at the
Neubrandenburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Since 1980 he has been
working as a theatre musician in Berlin and has played with many
jazz bands. Besides his role as a studio musician, Peter Blazeowsky
is a member of the German Film Orchestra Babelsberg and plays
bass for the ensemble "Tiempo de Tango".
TANGO REAL - From Sexteto to Quarteto
Upon being invited, the Berlin sextet Tango Real were more than
pleased to be given the opportunity to play at the third 'World
Tango Festival', the 'Cumbre Mundial del Tango', and embarked
on a tour on which their first port of call was Montevideo in
Uruguay. Here the six German musicians had the honour of playing
three concerts to the delight of an enthusiastic audience at a
festival which not only boasts 500 artists from 17 countries,
but also attracts fans and tango dancers from all over the world.
Following the conclusion of the two-week 'World Tango Summit',
and fuelled by the chance of giving five further concerts in six
days, Tango Real took the opportunity to make the short trip across
the Rio de la Plata and venture into tango's homeland Argentina,
and play, among others, in such well-known and venerable tango
venues as Club Almagro and Café Tortoni.
Full of inspiration at the end of their Latin America trip, they
went into the Melopea studios for a recording session which laid
the foundation for their second CD release, this time round with
the Argentinean singer Pablo Banchero.
However, two members of the band succumbed to the charms of the
birthplace of tango and were not among the party which returned
to Berlin.
Following an artistic pause the summer of 1997 saw Tango Real
celebrating their comeback as a quartet. Further recordings were
scheduled for Pablo Banchero`s return visit to Berlin creating
a link between the old times - Tiempos Viejos - and a new chapter
in the band's history.
Quarteto TANGO REAL
As was the case with the former line-up, today's ensemble, in
the form of a quartet, plays world-famous Tango Argentino arrangements
and classics from the music's heyday. However, the wide-ranging
repertoire has also been supplemented with Tango Nuevo gems made
famous by the composer Astor Piazzolla.
Bandoneon, violin, piano and double-bass have characterised the
sound of Tango Argentino, and it is with these instruments that
the TANGO REAL QUARTET carries on the orchestral tradition from
tango's heyday in Rio de la Plata. Their international experience
in various line-ups has provided the quartet's musicians with
a virtuosity quite uncommon in Europe, an asset that guarantees
an exciting and varied evening's entertainment. Since its formation,
the ensemble has held close ties with masters of the Argentinean
tango scene such as Rodolfo Mederos and Nestor Marconi, and accompanied
several well-known musicians during European performances such
as Ricardo and Nicole, Siro San Roman and the current holder of
the Hugo-de-Carril prize, Pablo Banchero. TANGO REAL has also
recorded a CD with the Argentinean singer Pablo Banchero entitled
"Tiempos Viejos" (Old Times).
Pablo Banchero
was born on June 29th, 1966 in the Argentinean capital Buenos
Aires. The young singer emanates from a family which has had close
ties with the Rio de la Plata dance music, its poets and musicians
since the very beginnings of Tango Argentino.
As a youngster Banchero received his first singing lessons in
the tango city 'San Telmo', and in addition began studying percussion
in 1991 at Escuela Superior de Percusion, the Associa-tion of
Professional Orchestras.
In 1993 he received a scholarship from the Berklee College of
Music in Boston, USA, and embarked on his career as a tango singer
in the traditional bars and cafés in Buenos Aires. The thorough
training in singing techniques, harmony, arrangement and composition
put him in good stead to move onto collaborations on projects
with such well-known tango ensembles and instrumentalists as Hugo
Romero, Osvaldo Montes, Walter Castro and Virgilio Exposito, and
ultimately led to the first prize in a singing competition staged
by the city of Buenos Aires.
Pablo Banchero completed his first solo tour in Europe with Tango
Real in 1996, and venues in Europe and, in particular, Finland,
were on the agenda for 1997.
TANGO REAL today
In the meantime, the ensemble's current musicians have easily
equalled the success enjoyed by the former line-up. Besides numerous
appearances in their hometown Berlin (among others Kammermusiksaal
der Philharmonie, Deutsche Oper, Rotes Rathaus or the laudative
role during the award of the 1998 BZ Arts Prize at Deutsches Theater)
the concert tour also included performances at the Hans-Otto-Theater,
Potsdam, the Theaterhaus Gessnerallee, Zurich and the Daimler
Benz Museum, Stuttgart (ball in honour of the Argentinean racing
driver Fangio). In addition, 1998 saw the Tango Real Quartet accept
an invitation to the 4th World Tango Summit in Lisbon where it
took on the role of official representative of the city of Berlin
between May 17 and 20, 1998 by giving two performances to the
delight of a very appreciative audience.
For booking and Info have a look at the
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CD Discography
Paul Raackow
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