Argentinian virtuoso musician of Ukrainian descent Chango Spasyuk performed for the first time in Ukraine together with the legendary Ukrainian band DakhaBrakha. He is a descendant of Ukrainian immigrants from Misiones province who interprets Argentina's multifaceted heritage through a combination of chamamé, jazz, classical, folk and experimental music.
The concert took place on 19 June in the Column Hall of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine. Chango is one of the most famous contemporary Argentine musicians, accordionists and composers, a leading representative of the chamamé genre, which was recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2020.
The concert was opened by the Argentine Ambassador to Ukraine, Elena Leticia Teresa Mikusinski, as well as First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Serhiy Kyslytsya and Deputy Director General of the Ukrainian Institute Alim Aliyev.
The Taco y suela: Tradición project presented chamamé in a modern interpretation, based on a dialogue between generations and different musical traditions.
The concert was performed by a trio: Chango Spasyuk — accordion, Enzo Demartini — accordion, Marcos Villalba — percussion
Special guests The second part of the trio's performance was played with the string sextet of the Kyiv Chamber Orchestra, and in the third part, the Argentine musicians played an improvisational programme with the legendary Ukrainian band DakhaBrakha.
As Chango Spasyuk himself said at the concert, his grandmother and grandfather once emigrated from Ukraine to Argentina. And now he is the first in two generations to visit the homeland of his ancestors. Chango expressed his support and solidarity with Ukraine in these difficult times and emphasised the uniqueness and richness of Ukrainian cultural tradition.
‘We play music together, look at each other and listen. All this makes us more human. Seeing and feeling the pain of others makes us human. At this moment in the world, a gesture of love can be revolutionary,’ the musician wrote on his Facebook page after the performance.
The concert was held with the support of the Argentine Embassy in Ukraine and the Ukrainian Institute.