The Edge of Tango Sonico

• Astor Piazzolla (1921 - 1992): Nonino:
• 1 Piazzolla: Nonino 03:55
• Tango del Ángel:
• 2 Piazzolla: Tango del Ángel 03:53
• Enrique Lannoo (b. 1940): A Horacio Paz:
• 3 Enrique Lannoo: A Horacio Paz 03:42
• Eduardo Rovira (1925 - 1980): Serial Dodecafónico:
• 4 Rovira: Serial Dodecafónico 05:02
• Sin Título:
• 5 Rovira: Sin Título 04:43
• Astor Piazzolla: Melancólico Buenos Aires:
• 6 Piazzolla: Melancólico Buenos Aires 03:28
• Eduardo Rovira: Monroe 3307:
• 7 Rovira: Monroe 3307 04:20
• Sinfonia:
• 8 Rovira: Sinfonia 03:47
• Astor Piazzolla: Marrón y Azul:
• 9 Piazzolla: Marrón y Azul 03:38
• Pedro Maffia (1899 - 1967): Taconeando:
• 10 Maffia: Taconeando 03:45
• Horacio Malvicino (1929 - 2023): Tangology:
• 11 Malvicino: Tangology 03:38
• José Pascual (1910 - 1978): Arrabal:
• 12 Pascual: Arrabal 03:37
• Julio De Caro (1899 - 1980): Tierra Querida:
• 13 Caro: Tierra Querida 04:42
• Juan Carlos Cobián (1896 - 1953): Los Mareados:
• 14 Cobián: Los Mareados 04:02
• Rosendo Mendizábal (1868 - 1913): El Entrerriano:
• 15 Mendizábal: El Entrerriano 03:04
• Horacio Salgán (1916 - 2016): A Fuego Lento:
• 16 Horacio Salgán: A Fuego Lento 03:37
• Total Runtime 01:02:53

Info for The Edge of Tango

Piazzolla and Rovira are usually presented as the two pioneers of avant-garde tango. It has been claimed that there was a certain rivalry between them, and is a subject of debate which of the two was the first to modernize tango. While nothing clear has emerged from this controversy, it is a good starting point to understand why SONICO wished to rediscover the birth of contemporary tango!

The music of two key groups at the forefront of modern tango, together for the first time: the Octeto Buenos Aires (Piazzolla) and the Octeto La Plata (Rovira). With these ensembles, Rovira and Piazzolla explored the boundaries (“the edge”) of tango for the first time. The programme includes not only lost material that was previously recorded (Piazzolla burned the scores; Rovira’s original scores were damaged by a flood) but also includes four previously unreleased pieces.

Lysandre Donoso, bandoneon
Carmela Delgado, bandoneon
Stephen Meyer, violin
Daniel Hurtado Jimenez, violin
Bartosz Korus, viola
Guillaume Lagravière, cello
Alejandro Schwarz, electric guitar
Ariel Eberstein, double bass
Ivo De Greef, piano

SONICO
It is a (almost) a rule in music history that some immensely talented musicians fail to receive the recognition they deserve during their lifetimes. In Argentina, Eduardo Rovira serves as a poignant example. Often referred to as “the other Astor Piazzolla,” Rovira was a visionary composer who transformed tango with his innovations. Despite his contributions, his music largely faded into obscurity following his untimely death in 1980 at the age of 55. The Belgian ensemble SONICO, formed in Brussels in 2015, has taken on the vital mission of reviving Rovira’s music and ensuring his legacy endures. Initially a quartet, SONICO has since evolved into a multinational ensemble of ten musicians, one of the rare modern tango orchestras active in Europe.

SONICO has distinguished itself through its meticulous archival research and their transcriptions have resurrected lost and previously unreleased repertoire. The systematic recovery of these contemporary classics, combined with the instrumental and stylistic perfection, is something that did not previously exist in tango music. Thanks to SONICO’s efforts, there has been a renewed appreciation of Rovira’s unique contributions, which charted an independent and radically original path distinct from his contemporary, Piazzolla.

Thanks to SONICO, there has been an important re-evaluation of Rovira’s key contributions to modern tango. Although Rovira was a contemporary of Piazzolla, his musical path developed in another direction; he managed to be radically original. Despite creating very personal music rich in ideas, his music fell into obscurity after his death.

The ensemble’s journey began with their debut album, Eduardo Rovira: La Otra Vanguardia, released in August 2018. This marked the first album exclusively dedicated to Rovira’s works since his death. Premiered at the Tango Festival BA in Buenos Aires, the album was part of SONICO’s inaugural Latin American tour. It was followed by Eduardo Rovira: Inédito e Inconcluso in March 2020, a project that involved reconstructing Rovira’s lost recordings from 1976.

SONICO’s commitment to artistic innovation has led to collaborations with prominent choreographers like Lisi Estarás, resulting in productions such as MY HEART IS THE MUSCLE THAT WE LIKE TO WORK OUT. This dance creation premiered at De Grote Post in Ostend and was featured in Paris at Les Plateaux. In March 2021, SONICO paid tribute to Astor Piazzolla’s 100th birthday at the Klara Festival at BOZAR, Brussels. The concert, broadcast nationally, became the festival’s most-watched performance. During the pandemic, SONICO overcame global challenges to embark on a second Latin American tour, presenting Eduardo Rovira: Inédito e Inconcluso in Ecuador and Colombia.

The ensemble’s third album, Piazzolla-Rovira: The Edge of Tango, debuted in 2021. This ambitious project juxtaposed Piazzolla’s Octeto Buenos Aires with Rovira’s Octeto La Plata, recovering lost and damaged scores. Accompanied by a Benelux tour with over 50 performances, this work highlighted SONICO’s ability to bridge historical recovery with dynamic modern interpretation.

In 2022, SONICO participated in A BIGGER THING, a collaboration with Lisi Estarás and the Opera Ballet van Vlaanderen. This production marked the first staging of Rovira’s ballet Tango Buenos Aires. SONICO’s artistry was further showcased during their third Latin American tour, which included debut performances in Brazil. These tours reinforced their role as ambassadors of avant-garde tango, presenting innovative programming that resonated across diverse audiences.

In January 2024, SONICO released Five, Six, Seven, Eight…, their fourth album, at BOZAR in Brussels. Following this, they embarked on a European tour, performing at esteemed venues like De Bijloke in Ghent, Concertgebouw Bruges, Heidelberger Frühling, Tonhalle Düsseldorf, Forum am Schlosspark Ludwigsburg and Philharmonie Luxembourg. The ensemble made its debut at the Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall in Istanbul, underscoring their growing international reach.

Beyond album releases, SONICO has been actively involved in educational initiatives and cultural programming. They have delivered workshops and masterclasses to promote the richness of modern tango, inspiring a new generation of musicians and enthusiasts.

The ROVIRA 100 celebration, marking Eduardo Rovira’s centenary and SONICO’s 10th anniversary in April 2025, became a milestone in the ensemble’s history. Highlights included their fourth Latin American tour with performances across Argentina and Chile, and a recording session in Buenos Aires for their fifth album, ROVIRA 100. This album revisited Rovira’s landmark records Sónico (1969) and Que lo Paren (1975), reintroducing his most iconic works to contemporary audiences. The celebration culminated in a historic performance at the legendary Teatro Colón, South America’s most prestigious concert hall.

Following their Latin American journey, SONICO will return to Europe to debut at venues like SPOT Groningen in the Netherlands and Grande Salle au Cercle Cité in Luxembourg. They will also participate in festivals such as Pietrasanta in Concerto (Italy) and the Lenzburgiade Festival (Switzerland). Highlighting the celebrations will be the premiere of a tango-symphonic program in collaboration with the Brussels Philharmonic at BOZAR Brussels in March 2026. This ambitious production, titled Sinfonía de Tango, will blend orchestral arrangements with Rovira’s avant-garde sensibilities, offering a modern interpretation of tango’s symphonic potential.

In addition to live performances, SONICO will present The Future Was Today, a multimedia concert experience inspired by 1970s late-night shows. This production will incorporate audiovisual elements and anecdotes from their South American tour, engaging audiences with an immersive exploration of Rovira’s legacy.

The musicians adding their unique musical perspective to this highly difficult repertoire include: Lysandre Donoso (FR/CL) bandoneon; Carmela Delgado (FR/SP) bandoneon; Stephen Meyer (USA/BE) violin; Daniel Hurtado Jiménez (SP) violin; Kaat Verheyen (BE) violin; Bartosz Korus (POL) viola; Guillaume Lagravière (FR/BE) cello; Alejandro Schwarz (AR/FR) electric guitar; Ariel Eberstein (AR/BE) double bass; Ivo De Greef (BE) piano

Instead of trying to create a controversy between Piazzolla and Rovira, SONICO wants to share the wonderful period known as avant-garde tango with the public. Although Eduardo Rovira and Astor Piazzolla employed different approaches to renewing tango music, they both worked tirelessly to free the music from traditionalism. Their actions had lasting effects on the history of the genre and even today we can consider their creations to be some of the most interesting music ever produced in Argentina.

Booklet for The Edge of Tango