The project Paris - Buenos Aries: Histoire d'Amour by Bulgarian pianist Maria Martinova and French violinist Cyril Garac was first presented at their concert in Studio No. 1 of the Bulgarian National Radio in 2013.

That same year the musicians had studio recordings, again at the BNR, released recently by a leading American label. Its presentation in Belgium aroused the interest of audiences and experts. The premiere in this country is at Bulgaria Hall tonight, 25 February.

The love story in Paris - Buenos Aries: Histoire d'Amour is actually the “affair” between the two cultural capitals and their bond is tango music. The dance that never grows old was born in Argentina and its heart is in Buenos Aires. The first European city where the tango put down roots and evolved was Paris. And its most renowned “ambassador” is Astor Piazzolla. Maria Martinova and Cyril Garac have their own “love story” with tango music - they have both specialized with some of the most celebrated names in this fascinating genre.

“After we had made the recordings in 2013,” says Maria Martinova, “we started putting together the material we wanted to release. It was a long and arduous process. Naturally, the project unfolded with a parallel concert programme and was presented in different European countries. The CD came out literally a few days ago. My dream was to clad the project in theatrical attire. I selected verses by poets, foremost names in literature and in Sofia they will be recited by renowned Bulgarian actor Julian Vergov. In Belgium we presented the same format and the poetry was read by Belgian actor Emmanuel de Candido. I also wrote the script for the show - I am calling it a show because it is no conventional concert. And not just because there is an actor on stage. From the very beginning we have been performing the entire programme from memory and that has become something of a “hallmark” for our duo. I have also been working with other music formations. A recording of Mr. McFall's Chamber - an ensemble of musicians from a Scottish chamber orchestra came out a few months ago. The music is fascinating, eclectic, presenting composers from the Baltic region. The album is called Solitudes: Baltic Reflections, it was released by a leading British label and got rave reviews. It was a real thrill - the release and then the reviews by the audience and by critics.”

The poems actor Julian Vergov will read are by Paul Verlaine, Guillaume Apollinaire, Charles Baudelaire, Jorge Luis Borges, Enrique Cadicamo and David McNeil.

Audio file contains the followingtracks:

- La muerte del Angel by Astor Piazzolla, Maria Martinova - solo piano;

- Le Grand Tango by Astor Piazzolla (fragment), performed by Maria Martinova and Cyril Garac;

- La plus que lente by Claude Debussy;

- Responso by Anibal Troilo.

English version: Milena Daynova