The tangos of legendary performer and composer Astor Piazzolla are informed by a multicultural upbringing which saw him introducing the influences of Classical, Jazz, Rock and Klezmer music into a unique Nuevo Tango style which still sounds fresh and modern today. Histoire du Tango sums up the genre’s entire evolution, Le Grand Tango is a virtuoso show-stopper, while Melodia en la menor expresses deep personal turmoil. Renowned Argentinian violinist Tomas Cotik’s special arrangements also include Oblivion and Libertango, two of Piazzolla’s most popular and enduring pieces.
“As an appointed expert on the music of the Argentinean composer, Astor Piazzolla, I have a steady trickle of new releases to review, this one among the very best. It starts out with the advantage of having the brilliant Argentinean violinist, Tomas Cotik, who is also responsible for most of the arrangements. The present performances ooze with the feel of smooch dance halls of Argentina where the Tango began, and which was to form the basis of everything Piazzolla composed. Is it classical music Well in the hands of Cotik it most certainly is, his technical command of the instrument absolutely impeccable, with intonation in the centre of every note, and his left hand flying around the fingerboard with remarkable agility. As he bends notes and slides around to create the mood of the music, you begin to wonder what this duo could do for the great jazz classics, the Chinese-American pianist, Tao Lin, an ideal and outgoing partner….this is one of the great Piazzolla discs, and in perfect sound quality, I urge you to buy it.
-David Denton, David’s Review Corner
“…an exceptional point of view on Piazzolla’s broad range of work. Cotik and Lin view the scope of Piazzola’s work through the lens of the violin-piano sonata, as rigorous and detailed as Piazzolla is likely to get, but also with free expression. The romance, longing and violence are all here…”
-Jon Garelick DownBeat Magazine

“The playing here is in so many ways exemplary….
…this transcription gets its rhythmic energy from the classically-born marcatos, spiccatos, and overall accented playing of these gifted performers”
-Gregory Hall Compositional Improvisations
“In short, this album is a treat from start to finish ? not just for fans of Piazzola’s music, but for anyone who appreciates the art of playing the violin.”
-John Terauds, Musical Toronto
“This recording…[is] recommended, not only for the considerable listening pleasure it offers, but also for the varied and satisfying feast of the different stylistic forms it displays.”
-James Tobin, Classical Net
This album was mastered using our 2xHD proprietary system. In order to achieve the most accurate reproduction of the original recording we tailor our process specifically for each project, using a selection from our pool of state-of-the-art audiophile components and connectors. The process begins with a transfer to analog from the original 24bits/96kHz resolution master, using cutting edge D/A converters. The analog signal is then sent through a hi-end tube pre-amplifier before being recorded directly in DXD using the dCS905 A/D and the dCS Vivaldi Clock. All connections used in the process are made of OCC silver cable.
DSD and 192kHz/24Bit versions are separately generated, directly from the analog signal.

2xHD Mastering by: Rene Laflamme
2xHD Executive Producer: Andre Perry