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Olargue

Last week this corner of the south of France, in the Languedoc, not far from Montpellier, was the setting for my most recent concert, which I gave with the bandoneonist Michael Zisman, my colleague in the duo Tango2, which we formed 15 years ago.

It was a memorable moment, not only because we were in a medieval village which has hardly changed over 700 years, but because we met a sensitive and receptive Festival audience. After our concert we enjoyed "Le Verre d'Amitié" (The Glass of Friendship), a lovely tradition instituted by the Festival organizers: I'm talking about  L'Association Musicale de la Vallée du Jaur et de l'Orb.

We would like to thank them, for the work they've done over the last 20 years, overcoming difficulties with vision and generous hearts. Thanks especially to Jean-Claude Branville, who knows the history of this place so well, and who transmits it with proverbial passion and humour. To Christine Charpié, fairy godmother to the visiting musicians. To Christopher Campbell-Howes, who for many years has given us through his writings and articles a unique vision of France seen through the eyes of an English gentleman. To Raymonde Bassi, and Denis and Georgette Wecxsteen, who welcomed us so warmly, inspiring in us the wish to come back... like all the musicians who take part in this Festival!

August 2009 - Olargue. Languedoc. France

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Birsmatterhof

This was one of  the most unexpected venues and a really big surprise for Tango2, Michael and I, when we arrived at Birsmatterhof farm near Basel. The event was the farewell party for the senior associate Peter Daester.

Playing on a stage built in a real granary, it was amazing how moved the people were by this hour of Tango playing. This wasn't simply because of the playing, but also because I told the tale of two very significant emigrations to Argentina.

One concerned the emigration from Germany of the Bandoneon, carried by a Swiss worker. The other was about the movement of the proportionately biggest group of emigrants, the Swiss, mainly in communities of emigrant Swiss farmers. Both took place in the middle of the nineteenth century. The feeling was as if the audience and ourselves, the players, were recreating this movement through the tango, the bandoneon and the violin, as if a close link  stretched back at that moment, uniting generations, farming communities and countries. A great evening.




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Tango 2 - Daniel Zisman (violin) & Michael Zisman (bandoneón)

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Schloss Fuersteneck

This is the venue for our last recital together with the pianist Christina Bauer, a lovely castle in the middle of the Bavarian Forest, in the romantic landscape of the Ilz valley.

The programme was a preview of our next series Sternstunde in Oberbalm BE next year. It consisted of two Beethoven Sonatas and Schubert's Rondo Brillant. Like last year, it has been a real pleasure to be there, to meet a great audience, and to enjoy the company of our splendid hosts, Brigitte and Adrian Forster, and our friend of many years' standing, the viola player Heinrich Foster. We hope to be back soon.

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