ANÍBAL TROILO: The Greatest Bandoneon of Buenos Aires

A very short biography by poet, teacher and editor Matias Mauricio

Aníbal Troilo was born in the Abasto neighborhood of Buenos Aires on July 11, 1914. At age nine, playing with his pillow, he dreamed of playing bandoneon. A year later he rested the bandoneon on his knees and was encouraged to play the first scales dictated by his teacher Juan Amendolaro. At the age of eleven he was already playing background music at the Petit Colón on Córdoba and Laprida. Later would come: the ladies orchestra at the Café Ferraro, the ensemble of Juan “Pacho” Maglio, the sextet of Elvino Vardaro and Osvaldo Pugliese, the tango bands of Ciriaco Ortiz and Julio de Caro, plus a long itinerary without rest until he achieved in 1937 his “Great debut” as orchestra conductor at the emblematic cabaret “Marabú”. From that moment, a new popular idol was born to Buenos Aires and tango, filling hours of radio, cinema, magazines, cabaret, carnivals and neighborhood milongas with his music and his image. Composer of the classics: “Sur”, “Barrio de tango”, “Pa’ que bailen los muchachos”, “Toda mi vida”, “La última curda”, “Responso”; Aníbal “Pichuco” Troilo: the greatest bandoneon of Buenos Aires is more than a tango musician, he is a piece of Buenos Aires. He passed away on May 19, 1975, but he is still alive in all the milonguero nights of the world.

Those interested in exploring the festival theme won’t want to miss:

• Two live music lectures about Troilo’s music, one by Tango Bardo, and the other by the Romo Agri Messiez trio. These are seated events.

• The four-class seminar of DANCE workshops, “Un Homenaje a Anibal Troilo / An Homage to Anibal Troilo,” given by Ines Muzzopappa and Corina Herrera. These are dancing events.

• Two nights of live music for dancing by Tango Bardo, premiering their brand new album of Troilo’s music

• A night of live music for dancing by Tipica Messiez, including performances of special Troilo arrangements