SONICO – TANGO revolution

SONICO – The Tango Revolution

When music is ahead of its time, it sometimes takes decades for the world to hear it. And sometimes, it takes musicians from five countries who are determined to rediscover it.

On November 10, a special concert will take place at Vilnius City Hall. SONICO—one of the most original and vibrant contemporary tango ensembles in Europe, bringing together musicians from Argentina, Belgium, France, Spain, and Chile—is coming to the Lithuanian capital. Their creative boldness, impeccable mastery, and distinctive musical style have earned them international recognition.

Formed in Brussels in 2015 by Argentine double bassist Ariel Eberstein, the ensemble ventures into territory where the tango tradition meets as-yet-undiscovered musical possibilities. In SONICO’s music, there are no random notes or predictable choices—here, every phrase has its own character, every instrument tells its own story, and the inventive arrangements become a true triumph of creative imagination. Complex rhythmic patterns, unexpected harmonies, subtle dialogues between instruments, and sudden contrasts in mood create a captivating, vibrant, and ever-changing musical world. This is tango in which one can hear echoes of Bach’s counterpoint, Stravinsky’s rhythmic boldness, the freedom of jazz, and the undimmed passion of Argentine music.

“There was a time when Rovira was more revolutionary than I was,” Astor Piazzolla once said. These words unveil one of the most intriguing stories of 20th-century tango.

Eduardo Rovira (1925–1980) was a brilliant Argentine composer, bandoneonist, and tango visionary whose music was far ahead of its time. For many decades, his work remained in the shadow of his famous contemporary, Piazzolla, until SONICO decided to bring it back to concert stages around the world. By meticulously reconstructing scores that had been forgotten and considered lost, the musicians not only revived an undeservedly neglected musical legacy but also revealed its astonishingly contemporary sound. The album *ROVIRA 100*, recorded in Buenos Aires in 2025 to mark the composer’s centennial, became yet another significant milestone in this extraordinary musical journey.

SONICO’s musical journey spans prestigious stages around the world—from the legendary Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires to BOZAR in Brussels and the Luxembourg Philharmonic. Yet just as telling as the geography of their concerts is the recognition they’ve received from international music critics.

*Rolling Stone* included the ensemble among the seven most prominent contemporary tango groups; *Billboard* recognized its debut album as one of the ten best tango recordings of the year, and the prestigious British music magazine *Gramophone* called Roviro’s musical discovery a true revelation for fans of Astor Piazzolla. The Argentine daily *Clarín* presented SONICO’s creative mission as a return to the avant-garde, reviving an unjustly forgotten tango genius.

SONICO will treat the Vilnius audience to an exceptional concert program that will showcase the ensemble’s diverse repertoire, with a special focus on the works of Eduardo Roviro. Here, virtuosity is inseparable from sensitivity, intellectual musical thought from emotional power, and precisely controlled sound from unbridled creative freedom.

This is an evening when music will not merely be heard—it will astonish, provoke, move, and keep you guessing what lies beyond the next musical phrase. When a familiar tango rhythm suddenly takes an unexpected turn, and tradition transforms into bold, refined, and captivating contemporary art.

On November 10 at Vilnius City Hall—SONICO. Music that rewrites the history of tango.

The 29th International Accordion Festival VILNIUS 2026
More information: www.akordeonofestivalis.lt