Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Piazzolla and Milva - Live in Verona

I believe this is the first time that a video of Piazzolla and Milva performing in the Verona arena has been available on YouTube. The video starts with a dance troupe executing choreography to Libertango being played by Piazzolla's quintet which is followed immediately by Milva performing Rinascerò (Preludio para el año 3001).

Piazzolla first met Milva (Maria Ilva Biolcati) in 1979 and toured extensively with her in 1984 with shorter tours in 1987 and 1989. It is said that the tours greatly extended Europe's awareness of Piazzolla. Milva was extremely popular at that time. Crowds came to see Milva but they left knowing the music of Piazzolla. Their joint performances at other venues are easy to find on YouTube and are captured well in the CD, Live at the Bouffes du Nord. Preludio para el año 3001 (which was the original title) was one of three preludes Piazzolla composed in 1970 with lyrics by Horacio Ferrer. The lyrics refer to rebirth in 3001 - a year in which Piazzolla once mused he wanted to be remembered.

The venue is a well-preserved Roman amphitheater built in AD 30 in Verona. You get several glimpses of the arena in this video. I can personally attest that attending an opera there with the full moon rising over the arena followed by an al fresco midnight meal in Piazza Brà is a memory that does not fade. Thank you to Italian television network RAI for preserving the memory in this video.

If the video does not appear below, click here.

Note: Unfortunately this video was removed and the account containing the video was closed. At least the existence of this video is now known. Perhaps it will reappear.



To learn more about Piazzolla videos, visit the Piazzolla Video site.

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