The Brisbane Tango Orchestra will welcome famed Australian-born/Buenos Aires-based composer and bandoneón soloist, Owen Salomé to perform a series of concerts across South East Queensland next month, featuring world premiere music especially commissioned for the series.
The bandoneón the quintessential and rarely heard in Australia instrument of tango music. Since the early twentieth century, Argentine tango music and the tango have become a world music phenomenon thanks to notable musicians and composers such as Astor Piazzolla.
Amongst his many accolades, Owen Salomé is one of the bandoneónists of the 16th iteration of the 2-year ‘Orquesta Escuela Emilio Balcarce’ tango program in Buenos Aires: the first ever Australian to hold the position.
The Brisbane Tango Orchestra (BTO) is an eight-piece ensemble which Chloe Ann Williamson (Double Bassist and Artistic Director) which specialises Argentinian tango music, and now it is about to share some brand new and thrilling repertoire with Queensland audiences.
Don’t miss this unprecedented opportunity to hear a concert of entirely new tango music by an Australian composer performed by a solo bandoneónist and specialist tango orchestra!
It is important to me that tango be a living, evolving tradition. Tango does not exist in a museum. As such I am heavily invested in the creation of new music. For example, my trio, Tango Enigmático, recorded music by living composers from both Argentina and Australia for our debut EP released this year (2022). Owen Salomé was one of these composers,” said Chloe.
Owen carries a unique skillset. He combines his strong background in composition with a deep understanding of tango music through his years of study in Argentina; he is also an accomplished bandoneonist – an instrument which is pivotal in tango music. Owen has studied bandoneon and tango-music arranging/composition with Hugo Satorre, Ramiro Boero and Pablo Estigarribia. Owen is the first Australian to ever win a place as bandoneonist in the world’s leading tango-musician training program, the Emilio Balcarce Tango Orchestra School.
I have a strong relationship with Owen and have also eagerly followed his journey as both a composer and performer. As such the opportunity to undertake a project such as this and not only have music composed by Owen, but to be able to work closely with him in performance is invaluable for the BTO and will be an exciting new experience for audiences in Australia.
Artistic development opportunities for tango music in Australia are virtually non-existent. There are only a small number of Australian musicians who have been able to marshal the resources to undertake the significant training required (usually including traveling to Argentina) to master the complexities of the tango style. My training has allowed me to pass on my knowledge to colleagues in the BTO.
TOUR DATES 2023:
MALENY COMMUNITY CENTRE
Friday 10 February | Time: 7pm | Location: 23 Maple St, Maleny | Tickets: events.humanitix.com
TUGUN – TOM ATKIN HALL
Saturday 11 February | Time: 7pm | Location: 433 Golden Four Dve, Tugun |
THE OLD MUSEUM
Sunday 12 February | Time: 3pm | Location: 480 Gregory Tce, Bowen Hills | Tickets: oldmuseum.org
REDLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
Wednesday 15 February | Time: 7pm | Location: 2/16 Middle St, Cleveland | Tickets: rpac.com.au
THE CENTRE
Saturday 18 February | Time: 7.30pm | Location: 82 Brisbane St, Beaudesert |
Don’t miss this unprecedented opportunity to hear a concert of new tango music by an Australian composer performed by a solo bandoneónist and specialist tango orchestra!
This performance is proudly presented by Red Chair with the support of the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
