Cuarteto Rotterdam with passion

For the guests of the Heilbronn tango club, held regularly on Sundays in Ebene 3, it is a very special evening. Indeed the rest of the audience also experience something exceptional with this quartet. For Cuarteto Rotterdam, one of the most successful European tango groups, played their mixture of old classics and Tango Nuevo.
They originate from Holland and Germany, although their hearts beat for Argentina and its music, styled there by the European immigrants. Nowhere else on the continent does one play such concertante and refined music, which offers everything from melancholy right through to joyous. Cuarteto Rotterdam demonstrated precisely this.

High class

With the title pieces of their new CD "Deleitante" the four provide some indication of their high class, and this audiolicious experience continues. Refined arrangements, impassioned solos from Susanne Welsch on the violin and dynamic interludes from Judy Ruks on the grand piano, which compliment each other fabulously. As well as Michael Dolak, whose bandoneon lies on the red cloth on his legs and – new to the group - Tino Scholz on the powerful contrabass.
They require no rhythm instruments; indeed the four achieve this using their own instruments with flying colours. And it is in this way that they play the entire bandwidth of the tango, from milonga through to tango waltz, constantly in time, with precise changes in tempo and often with a jovial and unexpected conclusion. Naturally, Astor Piazzolla is honoured with "Romance del Diablo", but so to are unfamiliar representatives of the tango. And with this particular evening being a milonga dance event, the dancing feet move during the breaks, close together, often with eyes closed and just as tenderly as the music.

For all ages

During the second segment, dancing takes place to music that appears to have an effect on all ages. All are represented, from 30 through to 60, and all are delighted with the quartet on the stage. And the top quality German/Dutch group is naturally not allowed to leave the stage without performing an encore. Absolutely not, when they are in such a mood to play as they are tonight.

Uwe Deecke
Heilbronner Stimme, 02.11.2009

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