The group Norteño will be performing a selection of pieces from their new album Cato’s Life, as well as music from their modern tango repertoire.

Music by Pierre-Paul Provencher and Astor Piazzolla

Pierre-Paul PROVENCHER (bandonion), Laurie ROSEWARNE (piano), Christian VACHON (violin), Rémi BARRETTE (electric guitar) and Tobias MEIS (bass)

Uniting sensuality and passion, virtuosity and musicality, Norteño electrifies its audiences by its outstanding performances. Leaving traditional tango behind, Norteño (meaning “people of the north” in Spanish) inhabits the turbulent universe of “tango nuevo” (new tango), a genre created by the great Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992). This passionate music, which is derived from classical and contemporary music, with influences of jazz and traditional tango, leaves nobody indifferent! Norteño’s repertoire consists of works by Piazzolla as well as compositions by Pierre-Paul Provencher, bandoneonist in the ensemble. Norteño is unique in that it is one of the only ensembles in the world using the same orchestration as Piazzolla's legendary ensemble. This revolutionary instrumentation of bandoneon, violin, piano, guitar and double bass creates a world of colour and expression only seen in symphony orchestras. And yet it is strange that one can find Piazzolla's music in concert programs all over the world but never in its true form. We invite you to rediscover tango nuevo as the great composer meant it to be heard. Norteño has performed across Canada in such diverse venues as the 1999 Pan American Games for an audience of 20,000 (at the invitation of the Embassy of the Republic of Argentina), at Place des Arts in Montreal, at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, and the National Arts Centre. Norteño is frequently heard on CBC radio and Radio-Canada. Performances in classical concert series have been received with great enthusiasm. As well, Norteño has achieved popular successes in various outdoor venues. Norteño's concerts finish systematically with encores and standing ovations. Norteño’s first CD, Milonga d’automne, was awarded 5 stars (out of 5) by La Scena Musicale. “These are musicians who show a great love and a great passion for this music. They truly rip out our hearts and knead them without shame. What joy!” In the summer of 2007, Norteño opened for Branford Marsalis at the inaugural concert of the Ottawa International Jazz Festival for an audience of 4,000. The same year, the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival presented Norteño at their annual concert in the grounds of Rideau Hall for 2,500 spectators. This concert marked the release of a second CD entitled Last Tango in Montreal. In January 2011, the Ottawa Chamber Orchestra and Norteño premiered a work for tango nuevo quintet and symphony orchestra by P. P. Provencher. Norteño recently premiered in Québec Astor Piazzolla’s only opera, María de Buenos Aires.