Cuarteto SolTango combines the luscious sound of traditional orquestas típicas with the verve of true chamber musicianship. While most traditional bands performed with a singer, Cuarteto SolTango almost exclusively plays instrumental arrangements, where the melodic line snakes in between parts in all instruments allowing each member of the quartet his moment in the spotlight. The title of this album and its opening number is, aptly, Sin Palabras (“without words”).
This album aims to transport the listener straight into the atmosphere of a traditional milonga ([note:] a musical evening with a special type of dance), and it is structured in tandas, all separated by cortinas. Each tango tanda is in the style of a famous band leader from the Golden Age……..
Today tango DJs play cortinas from a variety of different genres ranging from pop to jazz to classical music. In between each tanda, the members of Cuarteto SolTango present short solo or duo pieces that reflect their background as diverse and creative musicians. Collectively they bring their personal stories together to explore the rich heritage of tango.
The Cuarteto SolTango epitomises the next generation of authentic tango, combining the luscious
sound of a traditional orquesta típica with the verve of true chamber musicianship. With the unique
combination of violin, cello, bandoneón and piano, they connect the Argentine Tango of the „Golden
Age“ with the tradition of chamber music concerts. They interpret a wide variety of classic tango styles
ranging rom icons such as Aníbal Troilo, Juan d‘Arienzo and Lucio Demare right up to the pioneers
of the Tango Nuevo, Osvaldo Pugliese and Horacio Salgán, in alluring arrangements by Martin Klett.
Since it was founded in 2008, the quartet was invited to perform repeatedly at the music festivals of
Schleswig-Holstein and Oberstdorf, thereby launching their musical brand at outstanding classical
venues. Since then, the four have played at a number of international festivals – most recently at
the innovative Grachtenfestival in Amsterdam, the Heidelberg Spring and the Studio Concert series
at Bavarian Broadcast, Munich.
Following their debut album, they published their second album Cristal in 2015, collaborating with
the German National Broadcasting (Deutschlandfunk) and the chamber music label CAvi. Rave re-
views by Rondo and The Strad magazines, but also in the Tangodanza magazine proclaim their
great success in the classical market as well as the international tango scene. The third album Sin
Palabras was released in 2019.
SolTango performed live on stage at the acclaimed Blue Tango show during the International Tango
Festival Düsseldorf and the show Terra Tango at the Ghent Festival of Flanders. The four virtuosos
have been celebrated by dancers at international tango festivals in Hamburg, Oldenburg and Leipzig,
including appearances with prestigious dance couples such as Michelle & Joachim (Basel), Alejandra &
Mariano (Madrid), Gastón & Moira (Buenos Aires) and Claudia & Matias (Berlin).
Profound instrumental skills paired with a common curiosity to explore different genres unite the
four musicians of the Cuarteto SolTango.
Its initiator Martin Klett is known as an international prize-
winner and a pianist with many faces, who teaches at the conservatoires of Leipzig and Detmold
today.
The dutch cellist Karel Bredenhorst, also a founding member, performs not just as a versatile
chamber musician, but also in experimental crossover projects.
Violinist Thomas Reif has been appointed concertmaster of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra at the age of 26, after receiving numerous international awards.
The bandoneon is played by the Norwegian Andreas Rokseth, who has graduated as the best bandoneonist in the history of the Codarts University Rotterdam and who has thrilled the Argentine audience at the Buenos Aires Festival y Mundial with his Duo Julie & Andreas (Harp & Bandoneon).
LEONEL CAPITANO
He was born in Rosario (Santa Fe) Argentina, at the time of one of the deepest crisis of the genre. The influence of his maternal grandfather (Loco Castro, who was goalkeeper of Newell’s Old Boys and Boca Juniors) made him begin to sing tangos when he was only three.
His activity as soloist began in 2000, associated on occasions with music players of the level of Joel Tortul, Octavio Brunetti and Cristian Gustafsson, among others.
The pianist Martin Klett transcends borders with his effortless musicianship. With equal commitment
and refinement, he performs classical piano concertos and jazzy recitals with duo partner
Sebastian Manz. The press lauds the “cultivated, spirited touch” (Crescendo) and “suave technique”
(Piano News) of his Rachmaninoff album and his “passion, ease and precision” (Rheinpfalz) in tango
programmes with the Cuarteto SolTango.
This diversity is not only apparent on stage but also in his discography. With the release of Lamento
in 2019, this comprises ten CDs – two solo albums, five chamber music recordings and three releases
with the Cuarteto SolTango. Regular live recordings and interviews attest to a vivid interest from
broadcasters in Martin Klett’s artistic oeuvre.
2008 was an important year for Martin Klett, when he won both the Johannes Brahms International Competition
as a soloist and the German Music Competition as a duo partner. Since then he has made a name
for himself as a concert pianist at international festivals in Europe and beyond. He plays regularly with
ARD and ECHO award winners, concert masters from renowned orchestras and university professors.
The 32-year-old Hamburg native hails from musical family that supported his curiosity for various
forms of expression in young years – for composing and arranging in addition to piano.
He was able
to further develop his artistic personality with his long-time mentor Prof. Konrad Elser at the Lübeck
Conservatory of Music and later at the University of the Arts in Berlin. He now teaches at the Felix
Mendelssohn Bartholdy Conservatory in Leipzig and at the Detmold Conservatory of Music.
His passion for tango dancing has given Martin Klett deep insight into the music of this intangible
world cultural heritage. He often incorporates tango music into his concert programmes today.
With his Cuarteto SolTango, founded in 2008, he brings fresh new impulses to chamber music platforms
and radio channels.
For his Rachmaninoff album the press appricated the cultivated playing with temperament (Crescendo)
and his supple technique, with his SolTango albums his emphassis, freedom and precision. In the
field of chamber music Martin will concentrate on the 200th anniverary of César Franck’s birtday
together with the Armida Quartet and increases empahsis on his solo career.