On the occasion of the centenary of the birth of Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992), theHe Dijon Bourgogne Orchestra has surrounded itself with the best musicians to perform the work of the master of Argentine tango. Among them, the bandoneonist William Sabatier. In residence at the auditorium of Dijon, the musician gave concerts and prepared an album containing the complete concertos of Piazzolla. It will be released in November 2021.
Considered one of the benchmark performers and arrangers of Astor Piazzolla’s work, William Sabatier has pursued a solo career for over 20 years.
He has traveled the stages of Europe, performed alongside large symphony orchestras with his bandoneon. It was at the age of 6 that he discovered the instrument, to first do like his father who made popular balls dance, before being carried away by the fervor of the tango and of its undisputed master, Astor Piazzolla.
Rather than having my teenage crisis while listening to rock, I did it with Astor Piazzolla
William sabatierBandoneonist
Since moving to Côte-d’Or, William Sabatier has forged a strong link with the Dijon Bourgogne Orchestra. The same connivance that would unite a couple dancing the tango. Concerts Interrupted by the successive confinements, the orchestra and the musician took advantage of this imposed break to record a tribute album featuring Piazzola’s concertos. “With the orchestra, there is a communion that takes place, we meet musically and then the orchestra is very demanding; and that makes me feel good, I feel accompanied and helped, the music is even more beautiful”, rejoices William Sabatier.
A task which turned out to be quite delicate. Because much of Piazzolla’s music was the result of improvisation. “These are two concertos. And if you only play what is marked on the score, it is astonishingly boring. And Piazzolla knew it. He gives you a framework, exit doors. We were lucky that he played this work for us and so thanks to that, we can know how far we can go “, confided William Sabatier during the recording last May.
For Leonardo Garcia Alarcon, the conductor of the ODB, also Argentinian, the meeting with William Sabatier was love at first sight. “I heard him blind, without knowing who he was and I said to myself: he’s an Argentinian playing. But no. He is someone who was born in Clermont-Ferrand and who now lives in Dijon. He can return this wealth to France and all over the world. TO my opinion is the best current bandoneonist “.
The CD “Piazzolla Concertos” will be released on November 5, 2021.