How Argentina's Astor Piazzolla reinvented the tango, despite biting criticism back home. Get to know all the great composers at www.classical-music.com
Astor Piazzolla performing in Paris in 1977.Roger Viollet (Getty)
They say that Argentine tango musician Astor Piazzolla was bad-tempered. But his countrymen gave as good as they got: âPeople insulted him in the street. A taxi driver accused him of killing tango, and refused to give him a ride,â recalls his widow, Laura Escalada. As one might imagine, that is not her view of the bandoneon player and pioneer of âtango nuevoâ â a form of music that incorporates new elements into the traditional genre. âHe was a very sweet man, tender, very shy,â says Escalada. âWe all have a rough character if we are beaten.â