Concert review from Clare Martin:

Bach Musica NZ presented a New Zealand premiere and a rare opportunity to hear classical guitar and piano accordion with choir and orchestra on April 6th, 2025, in the Auckland Town Hall, Auckland, New Zealand.

We heard the NZ premiere performance of Misa Tango by Argentinian composer Luis Bacalov. Composed in 1997 Bacalov removed explicitly – Catholic references from the Mass to make it universal to all faiths. Sounds from the streets of Buenos Aires combined with the large choral and orchestral forces creating an almost operatic style. Also scored for baritone, mezzo-soprano and the bandoneòn (an Argentinian piano accordion), it was a unique instrumental line-up.

The work began almost out of nowhere, building from quiet depths to a full dark chord answered sorrowfully by the piano accordion. The second movement, Gloria was triumphant from the start all the way to the final scorching fortissimo. The Credo was almost defiant with its Milonga-like syncopated rhythm – “I believe in a single omnipotent God”. The Sanctus movement was made more eerie with the hugely accomplished accordionist Stephanie Poole’s extraordinary runs and mercurial phrases.

The final Agnus Dei was stunning, a spacious and searing movement, the orchestra a framework for beautiful solo lines from piano accordion, soprano and baritone. Pianissimo phrases from the voices pleaded – “Cordero de Dios … Lamb of God have mercy on us” and the tango-like gestures from the accordion deepened the sense of grief, it truly felt that the troubles of the World were being prayed for on the stage that night.