From January 26 to March 9, the Fabio Hager Sexteto performed at 25 venues in 23 cities across Japan at the invitation of the Min-On Concert Association.
Accompanied by three of Argentina’s most renowned tango dancer couples, the group is comprised of Fabio Hager on the bandoneon; Daniel Viacava on piano; Javier Weintraub as first violin; Damian Gonzalez Gantes as second violin; Julian Arellano on cello; and Pablo Araujo on contrabass. The sextet also featured vocalist Jesús Hidalgo.
The sextet was the latest in Min-On’s Tango Series, which began in 1970 and held every year since then, introducing Japanese audiences to the allure and passion of the performing art. All three tango dancer couples – Carla & Gaspar, Manuela & Juan, and Ayelen & Sebastián – are winners of the annual World Tango Championship Tournament’s (WTCT) Stage competition held in Buenos Aires.
The Argentinian artists visited the Min-On Culture Center in Tokyo on January 21, where they dedicated “Genesis,” a song honoring Min-On founder Daisaku Ikeda, who passed away in 2023. Mr. Hager spoke highly of the founder, whose vision of and faith in the power of music to bridge the manifold divides of our world led him to establish Min-On in 1963. This, he explained, was the reason for the group naming the original score “Genesis.”
The song was performed at the sextet’s premiere concert in Nagoya City on January 26, which can be viewed below.
Among the main titles in English performed during the tour were Distance, City Tango, Dramatic, Genesis and Integration.
On February 28, His Excellency Eduardo Tempone, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Argentine Republic to Japan, as well as representatives from ten diplomatic missions attended the group’s performance held in Tokyo.
Following their final performance held in Nagaoka City on March 9, Mr. Hager described the tour as a milestone experience, while Mr. Godoy, the winner of the very first WTCT in 2003, said he was proud to have the opportunity to perform with a group of Argentina’s finest tango artists for Japanese audiences.
Min-On expresses its deep appreciation to the generous cooperation and support of numerous individuals and organizations that made the Min-On’s 54th Tango Series tour a resounding success.
