Philharmonic concert in Kiel: Buenos Aires' tango magic inspires

Philharmonic concert in Kiel: Buenos Aires' tango magic inspires

The listeners experienced a special kind of concert evening on November 3rd, 2025 in Kiel, when Kiel Philharmonic Orchestra Under the direction of Eckehard Stier, the audience was taken on a musical journey to Buenos Aires. The orchestra captivated the guests with a program that reflected the vibrant culture and new tango of the Argentine capital.

The concert began with Antonio Vivaldi's famous “Four Seasons,” where concertmaster Dongyoung Lee stood out as the violinist. His confident playing and interaction with the orchestra contributed to the consistent energy of the evening. The first part of the program prepared the audience perfectly for the following works, which were all about tango.

A look at the tango world

The highlight of the evening was the performance of Astor Piazzolla's “Estaciones Portenas”, one of the masterpieces of the new tango. Piazzolla, who was born in Mar del Plata in 1921 and grew up in New York, revolutionized tango by combining traditional elements with new musical expressions. His music reflected the political, economic and cultural upheavals in Argentina in the second half of the 20th century. Piazzolla learned to play the bandoneón, a German button accordion, and began his career in tango orchestras before developing his own style.

The premiere of Leon Zmelty's piece "Tangueando - Urban Tides in Buenos Aires", born out of a competition with seven talented composers, was particularly exciting. Zmelty's works, which capture the diversity and complexity of the city, were rewarded with much applause by the audience. His music managed to bring the urban sounds and dynamic moods of Buenos Aire to life.

A master of tango and his legacy

Alberto Ginastera's “Variaciones Concertantes” formed the final chord of the evening. He also had an impact on Piazzolla's musical development, as he was Piazzolla's first composition teacher. Ginastera, who worked with folkloric elements, created a work that not only challenged the orchestra's technical virtuoso ability, but also highlighted Argentina's cultural roots.

Also performed that evening was Osvaldo Golijov's “Last Round,” a piece intended as a tribute to Piazzolla. It combines the urgent energy of tango with a modern approach while paying tribute to the master of the new tango. Golijov's work shows how timeless and powerful Piazzolla's influence on the music scene remains to this day.

The concert in the Wunderino “Philharmonic” was very well attended and showed once again that the sounds of Buenos Aires can also make waves in Germany. A complete success for everyone involved and a nice nod to Argentina's fascinating musical tradition.