Hector del Curto
Praised by the New York Times as a “splendid player,” Grammy-winning bandoneonist, Hector Del Curto is one of the most sought-after tango musicians, composers, recording artists and educators in the world today. He has performed with many renowned artists across musical genres and has appeared with the world’s leading orchestras such as the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Saint Louis Symphony, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.
Mr. Del Curto’s recent engagements include a recorded performance of Piazzolla’s bandoneón concerto Aconcagua with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Thomas Wilkins, a performance of Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires with Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and a concert including his composition Paris to Cannes with the Portland Symphony Orchestra. His 2021-2022 season highlights include a performance with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and a world premiere performance of his newly commissioned work for the Apollo Chamber Players.
Born in Argentina, Mr. Del Curto is a fourth-generation bandoneonist. At age 17, he won the title “Best Bandoneon Player Under 25” in Argentina and joined the orchestra of the “Last Giant of Tango,” Osvaldo Pugliese.
In 1998, Mr. Del Curto became music director of Forever Tango, a Broadway hit that continues to tour the world. Soon after, he founded the Eternal Tango Orchestra, a ten-piece ensemble that debuted at New York’s Lincoln Center, and the Héctor Del Curto Tango Quintet. Both are featured on his self-produced albums, Eternal Piazzolla, and Eternal Tango, which was profiled by BBC News and Public Radio International.
Mr. Del Curto has appeared on recordings with such artists as Osvaldo Pugliese, Astor Piazzolla, Paquito D’Rivera, Tito Puente, and Plácido Domingo. As part of the Pablo Ziegler Trio, he received a 2018 Grammy award for Jazz Tango.
Dedicated to the education, outreach, and the preservation of tango, Mr. Del Curto founded the Stowe Tango Music Festival, the premier tango music festival in the United States and produced its awarding-winning album: Live at the 2016 Stowe Tango Music Festival.