The worldwide explosion of tango has reached a critical mass in the past 5 years.  Because there are so many more people dancing tango, and so many more tango communities on earth, we are seeing more and more wonderful musicians able to make a living through tango.  Whereas twenty years ago, there were essentially no "orquestas típica" (meaning tango orchestras with a minimum of 3 bandoneons) traveling the world, there are now a number of them.  On March 6, we presented Orquesta Típica La Juan D’Arienzo in Philadelphia, making history as no orquesta típica had ever performed in Philadelphia for dancers before.  Due to the success of that event, we have some wonderful opportunities available to us now.  We are hoping that we can count on your help to make them a reality. 

Last year, Argentine pianist Emiliano Messiez traveled to Philadelphia from New York City eleven times to play in and direct various tango bands, teach tango piano lessons and tango music workshops for dancers, and debut a new show “Tango Dueling Pianos.”  He has charmed Philadelphia dancers with his unbelievably catchy arrangements, and his addictively danceable style of playing tango.

Now we have asked Emiliano to create – from scratch! – an orquesta típica to debut at the 9th Philly Tango Fest.  The orchestra will perform on Sunday, May 26.  With your support, we can increase the size of this group from eight musicians to ten musicians, adding a 4th bandoneon, and a 4th violin.  And we can also secure some of the orchestra musicians to stay to play an additional night of music on Monday, May 27 (the final night of the festival).

We believe that this orchestra is going to exist for a very long time, and Philadelphia tango is going to have a place in tango history for having launched it!

You’ve probably been watching La Romántica Milonguera’s videos on youtube, and dancing to their recordings in milongas, for a while now.  They are one of the most popular tango orchestras on earth, so it’s fitting that they just won “Best Tango Orchestra 2019” at the Premios Tango on Saturday, March 9.  

We have them reserving Saturday, September 21 to come play live for dancers in Philadelphia at an all-night milonga.  The date is so close to the Fall Equinox that we’ve decided to make it a sundown to sunup affair.  That’s 6:59 pm to 6:47 am, in case you’re wondering.  The orchestra will play during the normal milonga hours (live music sets between 10:30 pm and 1 am).  And we’ll have three DJs throughout the rest of this all-night milonga, which we believe will attract dancers from up and down the East Coast.

The Philadelphia Argentine Tango School has become one of the most prolific presenters of live tango music in the country.  We presented 12 live tango music events in 2018, featuring 18 professional musicians, many of whom came to Philadelphia multiple times.  In October 2018, we launched a sit-down concert series, the Fishtown Salon, which is presenting four concerts in four different genres during its first season (which extends through May 2019). Each concert has some kind of connection to tango.  For example, in the 3rd concert of the Fishtown Salon (Saturday, February 9), Classical Violinists Nastasja Vojnovic and Zhanara Makhmutova gave the world premiere of new music by Argentine Composer Bruno Giuntini.  His “Two Tangos for Two Violins” was the highlight of the night, and brought the house down!

In 2019, we have more ambitious plans.  The first concert of the Fishtown Salon for the 2019-2020 series will feature Argentine Composer Ariel Ramirez’s Missa Criolla, a folk mass featuring the rhythms of the Argentine countryside.  The program requires a 9-voice choir, vocal soloists, and musicians.  We will also present the Vera String Quartet, the string quartet in residence at the Curtis Institute of Music.  And a solo piano recital by the remarkable tango pianist, Pablo Estigarribia.  All told, at least 55 professional musicians will be included in a variety of programs presented by the Philadelphia Argentine Tango School in 2019!

What do all of these events have in common?  YOU!  You've been inspired by this music; you've been moved by these performances. Please consider making a donation to support this amazing live tango music vitality in Philadelphia.