With Café 1930, we invite you on a musical journey through the dance styles and sound worlds of the 20th century – from tango and impressionistic colours to jazz. The unusual and intimate combination of clarinet and guitar creates a rich and expressive sound palette, capable of both subtle nuance and vivid energy.

The programme brings together some of the most beloved works written for this instrumentation – true classics and audience favourites – united by stylistic diversity, rhythmic vitality and emotional depth.

Astor Piazzolla (1921–1992)

Histoire du Tango

At the centre of the programme stands Astor Piazzolla’s Histoire du Tango, a four-movement cycle that traces the evolution of tango through the 20th century. The first movement, Bordel 1900, reflects the raw and lively atmosphere of early tango in the bars and suburban venues of Buenos Aires. In Café 1930, the music becomes slower, more introspective and melancholic, marking tango’s transition from dance music to a form of emotional expression. Nightclub 1960 introduces jazz influences and modern harmonies, giving the tango a new cosmopolitan character. The final movement, Concert d’Aujourd’hui, elevates tango to the concert stage, transforming it into an autonomous art form beyond its dance origins.

With this cycle, Piazzolla unites traditional tango elements with classical structures and jazz harmony, creating a work of lasting expressive power and stylistic innovation.

Lukáš Sommer (*1984)

May Suite

The programme opens with the May Suite by Czech composer and guitarist Lukáš Sommer. This contemporary work is rich in lyrical expression and virtuosic writing, characterised by a clear and modern musical language. Despite its title, the suite evokes an idealised springtime atmosphere – fresh, colourful and full of lightness.

Darius Milhaud (1892–1974)

Corcovado

With Corcovado, Darius Milhaud brings Brazilian colours into his impressionistic sound world. Inspired by his time in South America, Milhaud combines rhythmic vitality with refined harmony. The piece captivates through its elegance, humour and dance-like ease.

Alexander Rosenblatt (*1956)

Elegy

Alexander Rosenblatt’s Elegy is an intensely personal work. The Russian composer and jazz pianist wrote it the day after his mother’s funeral, composing continuously at the piano without interruption. The music is a deeply intimate and moving tribute to her memory.

This piece is dedicated to his mother; our performance is symbolically dedicated to all mothers – in gratitude for their love and care. This recording documents the Swiss premiere of the work.

Sidney Bechet (1897–1959)

Si tu vois ma mère

The programme concludes with the jazz classic Si tu vois ma mère by Sidney Bechet. The title translates as “If You See My Mother”, once again echoing the theme of memory and affection.

With its warm, nostalgic melody, the piece highlights the clarinet’s unique expressive voice and provides a poetic closing to the programme.