In the footsteps of Astor Piazzolla: Alondra de la Parra meets bandoneon player Omar Massa

In 2021, the most famous bandoneon player in the world – Astor Piazzolla from Argentina – would have turned 100. A good reason for Musica Maestra Alondra de la Parra to meet the bandoneon player Omar Massa. Massa, also Argentinian, is seen by critics as the successor of Astor Piazzolla (1921 - 1992). Massa, born in Buenos Aires in 1981, has lived in Europe since 2016, and in Berlin since 2018. He first played music by Astor Piazzolla at the age of six, and Massa has admired the master of tango ever since. During his education, he attended numerous master classes and studied composition with Guillermo Pozzatti at the National Conservatory of Music in Buenos Aires. His bandoneon playing as well as his compositions have long attracted international attention. In 2021 Massa released two albums of his own pieces and works by his great role model. Massa plays an almost 100-year-old instrument that sounds close to exactly like Astor Piazzolla's bandoneon. Massa acquired the instrument after being invited by Piazzolla's family to play the grand master's bandoneon in 2015 – an honor that no other musician has ever received. Mexican conductor Alondra de la Parra welcomes Massa to her private apartment in Berlin. Together the two make music – Massa on the bandoneon, de la Parra on the piano – and talk about the art of playing the bandoneon, about Massa's beginnings and, of course, about the great Astor Piazzolla. Music sections: Astor Piazzolla: "Libertango" (arr. Omar Massa) Astor Piazzolla: "Adios Nonino" (arr. Omar Massa) Astor Piazzolla: "Oblivion" (arr. Omar Massa) Omar Massa: Concerto for Bandoneon and Chamber Orchestra More videos with Alondra de la Parra:    • MUSICA MAESTRA - with conductor Alondra de...   Subscribe to DW Classical Music:    / dwclassicalmusic   #OmarMassa #AlondraDeLaParra #MusicaMaestra