Descend into the Vaults and mingle with the lowlife of old Buenos Aires: thieves, card sharps, pimps and whores - in this surreal and intimate Operita Tango.

The Narrator will relate the story of the maestro of the bandoneon, Piazzolla's muse, María, a prostitute born in the slums “one day when God was drunk … with a curse in her voice.” Maria is seduced by the rhythms of the tango and soon becomes “the most sorcerous singer and lover” in Buenos Aries. But her “fatal passion” arouses the wrath of the languishing Piazzolla, who, driven to madness by Maria’s unrelenting freedom, conspires with a group of robbers and brothel madames to murder her. After her death, her Shadow returns to haunt the sordid streets she once walked, and only then does Piazzolla realise the error of his ways: “Maria is music!” A modern day Passion Play, full of religious allusions and black humour, set to a soundtrack of tangos, milongas and waltzes.

This intimate 90-minute masterpiece featuring an 11 piece orchestra will be presented in the setting of an abandoned carnival. After the performance guests who, like María herself, refuse to depart the scene will be invited to tango into the small hours at our after show party.

María de Buenos Aires is presented by Oskar McCarthy and A Curious Invitation, by arrangement with Warner Chappell Music Limited. Directed by Ella Marchment.

Astor Piazzolla an Argentine tango composer, arranger and bandoneón player: Piazzolla's oeuvre revolutionised the traditional tango into a new style termed nuevo tango, incorporating elements from jazz and classical music.
Horacio Ferrer A Uruguayan-born poet, Horacio Ferrer rose to fame as Piazzolla’s lyricist and longtime collaborator. He composed more than 200 songs and authored several books about tango, including El Libro del Tango which turned into a key reference work on the subject.

Dates: 6th & 7th May / 13th & 14th May / 3rd & 4th June

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COMPETITION:

Win 1x pair of tickets to attend ‘María de Buenos Aires’ at The Vaults at 22:00 on Friday 6th May. To enter the competition, send an email to ava@run-riot.com with the correct answer in the ‘subject’ line.

The winner will be randomly selected.

Q: Astor Piazzolla is credited as the Father of New Tango, but which German instrument did he play from the age of eight years old after his father spotted it for sale in a New York pawn shop?

A: .1) The Zither .2) The Bandoneón .3) The Hammered Dulcimer .4) The Belloneon ……………………………………………………………………………………….