Piazzolla Olympics

As the Piazzolla Olympics draw to a close, I Solisti d'Europa has been awarded the Gold medal in the Best Libertango Introduction event. In this event, judges award points for drama, style, musicality and length-of-time-before-it-is-apparent-that-Libertango-is-about-to-break-out. Many drama points were awarded for closed eyes, emotional mouth movement, and foreboding bass lines although the knowing grins from certain violinists led to a few deductions. The group scored very high in style as much of the introduction was reminiscent of a Piazzolla score from one of those 1950's Argentine film-noir movies. The group scored straight tens in the musicality category which might be expected from such a superb set of musicians. And finally, in the critical "break-out-time," their Libertango arrangement stretched the point of Libertango recognition for most judges all the way to one minute and forty seconds, a new world's record. Congratulations to I Solisti d'Europa for their big win.

The I Solisti d'Europa website needs a bit of work but from reviews I find of their concerts, the group apparently is staffed by leading players from the Berliner Philharmoniker, the Wiener Philharmoniker, the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI and the Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala. It appears that the group was first assembled in 2007 by Luca Ranieri and still performs today. You can see and hear more of this fine chamber orchestra's work on their YouTube channel.

As to the other events, the Gold for Big Hair has been awarded to Vanessa for her performance of Milonga de la Anunciacion and the Gold for Best Costume and Staging went to Claudio Orsini for his orange suit and machine shop venue in his performance of La muerte del Ángel.

Don't miss the closing ceremonies featuring the Marching Bandoneóns performing Pedro y Pedro tonight at nine on ESPN.

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