With an outstanding concert by the Astor Trio at kammerkonzerte.koeln in the Humboldt Hall, we are now heading into the summer break. You can watch parts of the trio's concert on video here in our review. Particular highlights were the Astor Trio's fantastic combination of works by Bach, Piazzolla and Gershwin as well as the world premiere of Tobias Kassung's Buenos Aires Fantasy II.
The three musicians of the Astor Trio have achieved the rare feat of establishing a completely new and unusual chamber music line-up in classical music, delighting audiences and critics alike. The Astor Trio brings together violin, guitar and double bass. Alexander Prushinskiy, violinist and first concertmaster of the Dortmund Philharmonic Orchestra, has come together with guitarist Tobias Kassung and the principal bassist of the WDR Symphony Orchestra Stanislav Anischenko to form this rare combination.
The programme at kammerkonzerte.koeln on 25 May 2024 spanned a wide range from Johann Sebastian Bach to rousing tango compositions by Astor Piazzolla, famous Broadway melodies from George Gershwin's "Porgy & Bess" and finally virtuoso Spanish sounds by Manuel de Falla. The world premiere of the second Buenos Aires Fantasy by Tobias Kassung was also a special highlight. The premiere of this new work delighted the audience just as much as the Astor Trio's entire programme. The three outstanding musicians were completely convincing with their breathtaking, brilliant and captivating way of performing this special music.
This concert is part of our new series Kölner Klassik © NRW 2024, where works of recent and new music that are outstanding in their quality and have a connection to NRW will be performed side by side with more familiar chamber music. One of these works is the world premiere of Buenos Aires Fantasie II - nuits d'été dans une métropole, op. 19 for violin, guitar and double bass. Tobias Kassung's piece was created in 2022 as part of the NRW Covid Aid Scholarship Programme. With a multi-layered structure and overlapping melodic and harmonic lines, it combines classical, avant-garde and tango music in a virtuoso and playful way.
The Astor Trio live with "Invierno Porteño" by Astor Piazzolla at the kammerkonzerten.koeln in the Humboldt-Saal:
The Astor Trio live with "Buenos Aires Fantasie II" at kammerkonzerten.koeln in the Humboldt-Saal:
The programme:
George Gershwin (1898-1937)
(Arr.: Tobias Kassung)
1. It Ain't Necessarily So
2. There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon for New York
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
(Arr.: Tobias Kassung)
Sonate h-Moll BWV 1014
1. Adagio
2. Allegro
3. Andante
4. Allegro
Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992)
Adios Noniño
Tobias Kassung (*1977)
Buenos Aires Fantasie I, op. 13
en mémoire d‘Astor Piazzolla
Programmschwerpunkt © NRW 2024
- interval -
Tobias Kassung (*1977)
Buenos Aires Fantasie II, op. 19
Nuit d'été dans une métropole
Programmschwerpunkt © NRW 2024
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
(Arr.: Tobias Kassung)
Sonate E-Dur BWV 1016
- Adagio ma non tanto -
Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992)
Invierno Porteño (Winter in Buenos Aires)
Verano Porteño (Sommer in Buenos Aires)
Manuel de Falla (1876-1946)
(Arr.: Tobias Kassung)
Danza Española No. 1 (aus „La vida breve“)
