On the evening of the September 24, Presencias kicked off its third season with an exquisite concert entitled ¡TANGUÍSIMO!… de Gardel a Piazzolla at UPRM’s Figueroa Chapel Amphitheater featuring one of the principal bandoneonistas of our time, Richard Scofano, and Uruguayan pianist and anthropologist Alfredo Minetti.
The doors opened at 7:00PM, but by 6:00 the lines were blooming with people of all ages and genders. The HC team got the opportunity to go to the sound check a few minutes before the concert began. Based on the masterfulness of this rehearsal, what awaited the audience outside would surely be exquisite.
“I enjoy these kinds of cultural events and I came to appreciate the work of art that is being resented tonight since events like these aren’t given often” said a student waiting in line.
“I decided to attend because I am a huge fan of Astor Piazzolla’s tango compositions. Although I’m not a professional musician, I admire how Piazzolla can inject bizarre yet delightful tonalities into tango” said another excited CAAM alumni before the doors opened.
Musician Richard Scofano. Image credit: Mariela Irizarry
The excitement was building up while the wait was coming to an end, and by the time Figueroa Chapel’s doors opened, everyone wanted to flood the amphitheater. The cold air was quickly buzzing by excitement, and within minutes the room was full with apprehensive show-goers.
An older man sitting near the front row commented how his “father would listen to this music when I was younger all the time so I grew up with it. It’s a grand opportunity to be able to be able to listen to this live and reminisce”.
The moment the third call and final call was announced, the audience fell silent, waiting for the artists to share their talent with the audience. Once the first notes filled the room, the audience felt still and mesmerized by the glorious mix of the grand piano and the bandoneón, and so the compositions began.
When each piece was played, the audience listened and engaged with the emotion the musicians were portraying through their instruments. Some compositions were melancholic, such as “Adios Nanino”, and some more upbeat such as the hilarious “Se dice de mi”. Between performances, the musicians would offer background information about each piece, such as why they decided to include said composition into the lineup, as well as offer hilarious albeit serious commentary regarding the mood and significance of each piece. During a break, Alfredo Minetti stated that “Tango is the poetry with the highest quality.”
Dr. Alfredo Minetti. Image credit: Presencias UPRM
The most delightful part about this event was how it brought together different people from various backgrounds and generations. It presented a rare chance to listen to the harmonies of excellent musicians interpreting tango compositions and for the younger generation attending, it created a close encounter with the variety of tango compositions being played. With this first Presencias event, we can conclude that there is a lot to expect from this third season!
Editor’s note: All images were taken by Mariela Irizarry for Presencias UPRM‘s Facebook page.
Students of the Special Topics course Presencias Culturales pose with the Scoffano-Minetti duo. Image credit: Presencias UPRM and Mariela Irizarry.