Astor Piazzolla may not have been the father of the tango, but he was certainly the master. Bringing together the energy of the dance hall and the elegance of the concert hall, Piazzolla brought the tango to new heights. Though best known for his piano works, the composer also wrote tangos for numerous instrumental combinations.
Focusing on his lesser-known works for flute and guitar, this album features Piazzolla's more ethereal side. Without the piano's authoritative lower range, these dances float weightlessly through the air. Cecile Daroux's flute is effervescent as it carries melodies across the simple guitar, and her performance of the six Tango-Etudes for solo flute is wonderfully delicate.
Piazzolla's Tango Suite No. 3 for flute and two guitars brings the strings a bit closer to the fore. The big standout on the album is "Oblivion," which features bandoneon and double bass in addition to the flute and guitar. The fuller instrumentation makes it a proud finale for a fine album.