The ensemble SOLEDAD was born in 1995, when five young students in Brussels discovered a common passion for the music of Astor Piazzolla. They specialized in the interpretation of the ‘Nuevo Tango’, with a line-up of Accordion/Bandoneon, Violin, Piano, Guitar and Double bass. The originality of this formation and it’s personality arouse the interest of several contemporary composers like Frederic Devreese, Alberto Iglesias and Daniel Capelletti, and also brought the musicians of the group to the write their own arrangements, coloured by their various influences. This modern approach takes SOLEDAD on the way traced by Piazzolla and opens new musical prospects.
The first concerts of Soledad immediately seduce both public and press, their reputation quickly grows in Belgium and also abroad, and they win several prizes at various contests of chamber music. In January 2002, Soledad is chosen to close the ceremony of the “Victoires de la Musique Classique” in a direct broadcast show on TV channel France 3. The group is also nominated “Best Young Musician of the Year” by the Union of the Belgian Musical Press. In April that year, after one of their concerts in the Palais des Beaux-Arts of Brussels, they meet Martha Argerich, who is very impressed by Soledad and invites them to perform on various international scenes.
In December 2002, the group receives the “Choc de l’Année” of the leading French classical magazine “Le Monde de la Musique” for their first album “Soledad” (on Virgin Classics).
“Like a dazzling universe, hammered by ivory, with Argentina in mind, the twelve tracks of this tango album are truly fascinating and breathtaking, in a repertoire that goes from Astor Piazzolla to Richard Galliano, Daniel Capelletti, Michel Lysight and Igor Stravinsky. To make a success of this ‘coup de maître’, virtuosos were needed. These virtuosos are Soledad ...” (Le Monde de la Musique, George Gad, 12/2002)
The ensemble performs in the largest venues and international festivals, like The Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, The Suntory Hall in Tokyo, the ‘Grand auditorium du Palais des Festival’ in Cannes (Victoires de la Musique 2002), the new Brussels venue ‘Flagey’, the Festival ‘La Roque d’Anthéron’ in France, ‘Euromeet jazz’ and ‘Veneto Jazz’ festivals in Italy, ‘Al Bustan Festival’ in Lebanon, ‘Miami Festival’ in Florida, the ‘Argerich festival’ of Taipei (Taiwan), ‘Lugano Festival’ (Switserland), ‘Beppu’ (Japan),...
In 2003 their second album “Del Diablo” was released on Virgin Classics and received great acclaim in the national and international press.
During 2004 Soledad is invited at festivals like La Roque d’Anthéron, Festival of Wallonia, Festival of Flanders, in Canada, in the United States, etc...
In 2005 the ensemble tours in Japan, Canada, France, Italy, etc, and has the honor to have been chosen to perform the annual concert for the Royal Palace of Belgium on October 25, which will be broadcasted ‘live’ on both national TV stations.
Soledad is preparing their new album, dedicated to the music of Almodovar film scores, which will be released in the spring of 2006.