Orphika 2024: MisaTango by Martín Palmeri
The event will feature the Orquestra Clássica do Centro string ensemble, the Coimbra Vocal Choir, soprano Lara Martins, and João Gentil, taking place on 7 December at 21:00.
On 7th December at 9 pm, the Centro de Portugal Pavilion will host a performance of Martín Palmeri's 'MisaTango', as part of the Orphika music cycle. The piece combines elements of tango with the tradition of sacred music. "This was a joint idea with the Coimbra Choir, a participant and co-organiser of the concert," says the president of the Associação Orquestra Clássica do Centro, Emília Cabral Martins.
The programme will include pieces by Astor Piazzolla, known for his innovative incorporation of jazz elements and classical music into tango, and MisaTango, composed between 1995 and 1996. MisaTango has been performed in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York and at the Vatican to pay homage to the former cardinal of Buenos Aires, enthroned as Pope Francis.
The performance in Coimbra will feature the string ensemble of the Orquestra Clássica do Centro (Pedro Carvalho, Ana Carvalho, Cristóvão Andrade, Lauro Lira and Rui Morais), soprano Lara Martins, João Gentil on bandoneon, Pedro Lopes on piano and the Coimbra Vocal Choir conducted by Sergio Alapont.
According to Martín Palmeri, the composition is the result of a spontaneous production, the fruit of his experience as a choirmaster, pianist and tango arranger. "I always wanted to compose a tango for choirs," he explains, "but without losing the essence of the genre. The Latin text gives the piece a reserved and erudite quality, which I think goes well with progressive tango.
The president of the Orquestra Clássica do Centro stresses the importance of participating in the Orphika cycle, an initiative of the University of Coimbra: "It is a privilege to be associated with this prestigious series. The organisers hope that the audience will leave the concert "eager to revisit this performance and its musicians".
MisaTango - Martín Palmer
Classical Music Concert
Pavilion Centre of Portugal
MisaTango, or Misa a Buenos Aires, was composed by the Argentinian Martín Palmeri between September 1995 and April 1996. It was first performed on 17 August 1996 at the Broadway Theatre in Buenos Aires. Over the years, it has been performed in numerous countries and at various festivals, most notably at the C’est pas Classique festival (2014) in Nice, France, and at New York’s Carnegie Hall under the baton of Martín Palmeri (2016). The piece was also chosen as a tribute to Pope Francis (2013), referencing his Argentinian origins, during a concert in the Church of St Ignatius of Loyola as part of the International Festival of Music and Sacred Art in the Vatican.
In Coimbra, this renowned work will be performed by the string ensemble of the Orquestra Clássica do Centro, the Coimbra Vocal Choir, soprano Lara Martins, and João Gentil on bandoneon, under the baton of Sergio Alapont, as part of the MisaTango concert.
Organisation: University of Coimbra | Orquestra Clássica do Centro
Tickets: Available here(standard ticket: €13)