SONICO – TANGO Revolution

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SONICO – TANGO Revolution

When music is ahead of its time, it can sometimes take decades for the world to hear it. Or it can take musicians from five countries, determined to discover it anew.

On November 10 at Vilnius Town Hall: a special concert. SONICO, one of Europe’s most original and striking contemporary tango ensembles, is coming to Lithuania’s capital, bringing together musicians from Argentina, Belgium, France, Spain and Chile. Their creative boldness, impeccable musicianship and distinctive musical style have earned international recognition.

Formed in Brussels in 2015 by Argentine double bassist Ariel Eberstein, the ensemble ventures to where tango tradition meets unexplored musical possibilities. There are no accidental notes or predictable choices in SONICO’s music: every phrase has its own character, every instrument tells its own story, and inventive arrangements become a true triumph of creative imagination. Intricate rhythmic patterns, unexpected harmonies, subtle instrumental dialogues and sudden contrasts in mood create a compelling, vivid and ever-changing musical world. This is tango with echoes of Bach’s counterpoint, Stravinsky’s rhythmic daring, the freedom of jazz and the undying passion of Argentine music.

“There was a time when Rovira was more revolutionary than I was,” Astor Piazzolla once said. These words open the door to one of the intriguing stories in 20th-century tango.

Eduardo Rovira (1925–1980) was a brilliant Argentine composer, bandoneon player and tango visionary whose music was far ahead of its time. For decades, his work remained in the shadow of his famous contemporary Piazzolla, until SONICO set out to bring it back to concert stages around the world. By carefully reconstructing forgotten scores that had been considered lost, the musicians not only revived an unjustly overlooked musical legacy but also revealed its astonishingly modern sound. Recorded in Buenos Aires in 2025, the album “ROVIRA 100”, dedicated to the centenary of the composer’s birth, became another significant milestone in this extraordinary musical journey.

SONICO’s musical journey spans prestigious stages around the world, from the legendary Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires to BOZAR in Brussels and the Luxembourg Philharmonic. Yet international music critics’ recognition speaks just as eloquently as the geography of its concerts.

“Rolling Stone” included the ensemble among the seven most prominent contemporary tango groups; “Billboard” named its debut album one of the ten best tango recordings of the year; and the prestigious British music magazine “Gramophone” called the rediscovery of Rovira’s music a true revelation for Astor Piazzolla fans. Argentina’s daily newspaper “Clarín” described SONICO’s creative mission as the return of the avant-garde, bringing back an unjustly forgotten tango genius.

For Vilnius audiences, SONICO will present a distinctive concert program showcasing the ensemble’s diverse repertoire, with a special place for Eduardo Rovira’s work. Here, virtuosity is inseparable from sensitivity, intellectual musical thought from emotional force, and precisely controlled sound from unrestrained creative freedom.

This is an evening when music will do more than sound: it will surprise, provoke, move you and keep you guessing about what lies beyond the next musical phrase. When the familiar tango rhythm suddenly takes an unexpected turn and tradition becomes bold, refined and compelling contemporary art.

On November 10 at Vilnius Town Hall: SONICO. Music in which the history of tango is being written anew.

The 29th International Accordion Festival VILNIUS 2026
more information: www.akordeonofestivalis.lt