Please join us for a pre-concert talk Jewish Life and Tango in Argentina with Anita Epelbaum Weinstein: Sociologist specializing in the Argentine Jewish community; Argentine Jewish Federation (AMIA).
Jewish immigrants from all over the world began arriving in Argentina in the early 1800's. Along with other immigrant groups, they made numerous contributions to Argentine society including theater, the recording and film industries, and various music genres, distinctively tango music, which greatly benefited from the work of Jewish tango composers, lyricists, musicians, and singers. The history of the Argentine Jewish community and its relationship to Argentine society over the decades as well as its legacy and contribution (which are still enriched by Argentine Jews today) will be discussed in a pre-concert talk by sociologist Anita Epelbaum Weinstein, a Hebrew University graduate and current Argentine Jewish Federation leader.

Orquesta Victoria is a 12-piece tango ensemble from Buenos Aires, Argentina, that has performed throughout South America as well as in Germany, Austria, and Russia. The orchestra’s rich sound couples technical precision with passion and romance, encompassing influences from classical music and jazz. The group has several Jewish members including the orchestra’s leader, Ezequiel (Cheche) Ordoñez. Featuring Alexey Musatov, Maritza Pachecho Blanco, Florencia Prieto, and Juan Villegas on violin, Andres Hojman on viola, Agustín Scheinkerman on cello, Alejandro Drago, main arranger and pianist, Pablo Pesci on clarón, Hugo Satorre and Ezequiel Ordoñez on bandoneón, Hernán Cuadrado on double bass, and Noelia Moncada on vocals.

  The group released their first CD Orquesta Victoria in 2011, their second one En Vivo en Café Vanilo in 2013, and has just completed a new CD, La Media Cuadra Inmortal, comprised entirely of tangos by San Francisco composer and lyricist Débora Simcovich, who was born and raised in Buenos Aires. Please join us for the world premiere of La Media Cuadra Inmortal and enjoy the first chance to hear these new works, plus beloved tango classics, superbly arranged by Orquesta Victoria, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the death of famed, larger-than-life, tango composer and singer, Carlos Gardel.

During a portion of the concert, world renowned tango dancers, Christy Cote (founding member of Bay Area-based all-female tango company, Tango Con*Fusion) & Count Glover (MonTango Orchestra) and Berkeley-based Nicholas Tapia & Stephanie Berg (2014 USA Tango Champions) will dance some tangos.

visit the Orquesta Victoria website

villacrespoproductions.com

Orquesta Victoria photo by Paula Abramovich