Six composers from parts of the globe with a high average temperature. The legend of Astor Piazzola is made all the more exciting by the fact that the Buenos Aires bandoneon player and bandleader lived in the borderlands between popular and classical music, enjoying a vibrant relationship with classical performers and composers alike. His most famous works are tangos, which continue to be popularised by many outstanding musicians, ranging from Martha Argerich to Gidon Kremer. One can really feel the difference between the tango nuevo style representated by Piazzolla and the earlier tradition, as heard in Carlos Gardel's most famous work in the genre. And as long as we're talking about traditions, we will also get to hearthe famous Gypsy songs by Pablo de Sarasate, the legendary virtuoso and composer of the Spanish violin school. Although Joaquín Rodrigo, who lived through all but two years of the 20th century, was a pianist and composer, his two most famous works are concertos for guitar and orchestra - of which one is Fantasía para un gentilhombre, written for the legendary composer Andrés Segovia. Unassailable in terms of its popularity is Granada, an indispensible part of the tenor repertoire by Mexico's 'El flaco de oro' (The golden skinny fellow), Agustín Lara. Although Manuel de Falla was born a few years before Bartók, but it's not only through their close birth years that he is connected to the Hungarian composer: they also shared a kinship in how their thinking was inspired by folk music. All works by Latin composers share a richness of emotion and a passion and pride at work in the posture, flow and power of their music. They are fiery pieces, and it is a fine feeling to hear them on a beautiful July evening under the open sky.

Presented by: Müpa Budapest