Stefano Bollani - El Chakracanta / Live in Buenos Aires (Alobar 2021) - CONCERTO AZZURRO Movement II

CONCERTO AZZURRO (second movement) plays in symbiosis with the images of "Somewhere in Dreamland" (Max Fleischer's Color Classics, Paramount Picture, 1936). Thus was born, from a completely unexpected coincidence, this clip in which music and images magically travel together.

EL CHAKRACANTA, Stefano Bollani’s new dynamic live album with two original works of his for piano and orchestra and two tangos by Ástor Piazzolla and Horacio Salgán, will be internationally released by Bollani’s label ALOBAR on 26th March 2021.
Bollani’s “CONCERTO AZZURRO” (2017) and “CONCERTO VERDE” (2019), each classically structured in four movements of distinct character of melody and rhythm, are informed by Bollani’s jazz genius, favouring moments that disobey the rules that demand that a pianist shall stick to the rigorously immutable score.

“CONCERTO AZZURRO” [Azure Concerto] was commissioned by Kristjan Järvi and the MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra. Azure is the colour of the fifth chakra, associated with self-expression and communication.
“CONCERTO VERDE” [Green Concerto] refers to the colour of the fourth chakra, associated with love.
Both concertos were recorded live in Buenos Aires: “Azzurro” at Centro Cultural Kirchner on 17th June 2018; and “Verde”, next to Piazzolla’s “Libertango” and Salgán’s “Don Agustin Bardi”, at Teatro Coliseo on 19th June 2019. With Bollani (piano) and the Orquesta Sin Fin, directed by Exequiel Mantega.

The CD comes in an exquisite 6-side DigiSleeve with an 8-page booklet graphically designed by Italian artist Umberto Giovannini.

Tracklist:
1: “Don Agustín Bardi” by Horacio Salgán, arranged by Diego Schissi;
2-5: “Concerto Azzurro” for piano and orchestra by Stefano Bollani, arranged by Paolo Silvestri, adapted for chamber orchestra by Exequiel Mantega;
6: “Libertango” by Ástor Piazzolla, arranged by Diego Schissi;
7-10: “Concerto Verde” for piano and chamber orchestra by Stefano Bollani.

orchestra: Orquesta Sin Fin
conductor: Exequiel Mantega
piano: Stefano Bollani
double bass: Juan Pablo Navarro (in Don Agustín Bardi, Concerto Verde and and Libertango)
drums: Bernardo Guerra (in Libertango and Concerto Verde)
bandoneon: Santiago Segret (in Don Agustín Bardi and Libertango)

Released by: Alobar
Album release date: 26th March 2021
Music in this video from CONCERTO AZZURRO Movement II