Elegy for Three – Voice, Piano, and Cello

Sometimes a single encounter can transform not only an artist’s creative path but also the course of music history. This was the case for the young Argentine Ástor Piazzolla, who met the legendary pedagogue Nadia Boulanger in Paris. Aspiring to become a composer of academic music, Piazzolla long concealed his passion for tango, but it was Boulanger who encouraged him to return to the true essence of his artistic identity. Thus, the nuevo tango movement was born — a style in which the traditions of Argentine tango merged with the principles of classical music and the new ideas of the 20th century.

Alongside this story, the programme also explores other connections between music and the written word. André Previn’s song cycle based on texts by Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison reveals the composer, pianist, and conductor’s ability to convey poetic language with sensitivity through music. Works by Gabriel Fauré and other composers continue the tradition of French chamber music, where subtle expression, melodic beauty, and the performers’ mutual sensitivity are central.

This programme is presented by three outstanding Lithuanian musicians — soprano Asta Krikščiūnaitė, cellist Gleb Pyšniak, and pianist Milda Umbrusevičiūtė. Bringing together performers of different generations, the programme is united by their extensive stage experience, attention to the nuances of chamber music, and ability to create an intimate connection with the audience.

* “Tango Nuevo” (Spanish for “New Tango”) is a progressive movement that emerged in the 1980s. It transformed traditional Argentine tango by incorporating elements of contemporary dance, jazz, and classical music.