Astor Piazzolla

Astor Piazzolla - a short biography
  

Born 1921 in Mar del Plata in Argentina.

He ives from 1934-37 in New York. After his return to Buenos Aires Astor Piazzolla starts working as an arranger and musician among others for Anibal Troilo.

First own orchestra in 1946.

In 1952 Astor Piazzolla composes his first oeuvre for orchestra: Rapsodia Portena.

In 1954 he starts his studies in Paris with Herman Scherchen and Nadja Boulanger.

In 1955 Piazzolla founds the Buenos Aires Octet and starts renewing the Tango (Tango nuevo), being criticized a lot for that in the beginning.

1961 he founds the Astor Piazzolla Quintet.

1964 he composes the Operita Maria de Buenos Aires (info at wikipedia.org)

1969 participation at the Festival Buenos Aires with Balada para un loco

1972 first performance in Italy with Conjunto 9

1974 LPs Libertango. Astor Piazzolla divorces from his wife Amelita Baltar before the recording of the "Summit" album with Gerry Mulligan. Performance at the Olympia in Paris.

1976 Astor Piazzolla plays concerts in New York and meets his last wife Laura Escalada.

1986 César Prize in Paris, plays at the Montreux Jazz Festival with Gary Burton.

At the end of 1989 he dissolves his band and plays only solo with strings and symphonic orchestras.

On 4.8.1990 he suffers a stroke.

Astor Piazzolla dies on july 4th in 1992 in Buenos Aires.
  

Official Homepage of Astor Piazzolla (english)

More info on Astor Piazzolla at wikipedia.org
  

CDs by Astor Piazzolla on Tropical Music:

68.842 Gerry Mulligan / Astor Piazzolla - Summit (BMG 91688422)

68.904 Astor Piazzolla - Libertango (BMG 883934)

68.942 Astor Piazzolla - Lumiere (BMG 883573)

68.943 Astor Piazzolla - Persecuta & Biyuya (BMG 883574)