Piazzolla - Maria de Buenos Aires

The Guardian 80

Mr McFall’s Chamber
(Delphian)

Astor Piazzolla’s tango opera is fierce and hot-blooded thing, with its swirling text by Horacio Ferrer and deft mashup of fugue, milonga, cabaret, even 1960s psychedelia. The drama inhabits bars and brothels where characters are ultra-vivid but mysterious and a bit supernatural – if Maria represents the city, the bandoneon (played with superb poise by Victor Villena) brings out her most seductive and destructive sides. Edinburgh ensemble Mr McFall’s Chamber has been championing Piazzolla for 20 years and their take is considered and dignified, if low on danger or breathless passion. I blame the percussion, which is far too well behaved. But the sultry exchanges between violin and bandoneon are irresistible, as are the voices: smoky narration from Juanjo Lopez Vidal, with Valentina Montoya Martinez unflinching as Maria, and huge-hearted chansons from Nicholas Mulroy. If you know him as Bach’s Evangelist, just wait till you hear his way with a slow milonga. Devastating.