Astor Piazzolla

Composer

Born: 11 March 1921, Mar del Plata (Argentina)
Died: 4 July 1992, Buenos Aires (Argentina)

From 1924 till 1937 Astor Piazzolla lived in New York with his parents. In 1930 he started playing the bandoneon. Later also studied piano with a student of Rachmaninov, Bela Wilda. When he returned to Argentina in 1937 he began to perform in an orchestra. In 1940 he continued his studies with Alberto Ginastera. His first orchestra was created in 1947. In 1955 he received a scholarship from the Frenach Government, which he used to study with Nadia Boulanger. She advised him to follow his origins in music. Back in Argentina Piazzolla founded two groups: "El Octeto de Buenos Aires" and "La Orquesta de Cuerdas". Despite the bad critisisms, he stuck to the music he liked.

In 1958 Piazzolla was in New York for two years, with many recordings on radio, tv and records. Back in Argentina he formed a quintet. He always thought a tango was music to listen to rather than to dance on. During the 1960‘s his music became more and more appreciated. Many artists have recorded his compositions, and he has won many prices. In 1993 he received a Grammy Award for his composition "Oblivion", which many consider Piazzolla‘s most beautiful work.