Café de los Maestros

Cultural Centre, Saturday March 6

Latin culture is somewhat of a rarity in Hong Kong, so the arrival of the Argentinean and Uruguayan supergroup Café de los Maestros was a particularly promising experience.

Sporting an eleven-man armoury of bandoneons, violins, a piano, a double bass, and a cello, the maestros displayed the wide range of styles that tango is capable of, from playful to touching to, dare we say it, erotic.

From duets with guitarist Anibal Arias and bandoneonist Osvaldo Montes, to the powerful, soulful tones singing from 87-year-young Juan Carlos Godoy that seemingly transcended his frail-looking body, and Jose Colangelo’s fun-loving, lightning-quick pizzazz and showmanship on the piano, and of course the sexy dancing, there were many highlights.

However, the four bandoneonists – playing the essential tango instrument – stood above all else, stretching and collapsing the versatile instrument to create long notes, short notes, high tones, and low tones in a warmth of accordion-like wheezing.

The legends concluded their planned set with the tango anthem La Cumparsita. However the audience would not let them leave easily, showering them with applause. The maestros responded and rewarded the appreciative crowd with an encore.

Leon Lee