Astor Piazzolla

Astor Piazzolla (1921–1992), the Argentine composer and bandoneón virtuoso, revolutionised the tango by fusing it with jazz and classical music to create nuevo tango. Works such as Libertango, Oblivion and Adiós Nonino moved the genre from the dance hall to the concert stage — dividing traditionalists but conquering the world. A pupil of the legendary Nadia Boulanger, Piazzolla wrote music of fierce rhythm and aching melancholy. Performed live, his tangos are sensual, dramatic and utterly compelling.