With the CDs "Retrato de Astor Piazzolla" and "Evasion" NOVITANGO presents - both as a trio and a sextet - a collection of music exclusively dedicated to the Argentinean composer Astor Piazzolla.When the group formed in 1993, each member contributed more than 10 years of musical and instrumental experience both with Tango and other popular and folk music.
The Trio-CD presents a completely new concept of sound and structure due to the rather unusual combination of three equally powerful performing instruments, as well as the neglect of the typical tango-instrumentation (bandoneon, violin, double-bass) results in a crafty dynamism and a new richness of tone. With the viola - by replacing the violin of the traditional trio - enforcing a vaster solidity of sound and an indisputably enriched melancholy character. Thus the trio presents a very classical, all the same brand-new Piazzolla miles away from all those clichés and cheap imitations, witty and intimate, one who lives up more to the concert hall than to the big jazz events, expressing the very soul of his music closer than ever before.
Performing mostly in Italy, where they worked for the biggest concert artist's agencies, the TRIO NOVITANGO also played to enthusiastic audiences in numerous other European cities.
In 1994, the Trio for the first time toured Argentina and won the heartsof the audiences as well as the acclaim of the "especially sensitive" critics. Said Fernando Suarez Paz, outstanding violinist from Astor Piazzolla's own quintet "Nuevo Tango": "I have been listening to very many interpretations of Astor Piazolla's music all over the world. But here for the first time a group succeeds in conveying the emotion inherent to the work of this great Argentinean composer whom I had the honour to play with for many years. I want to congratulate the Trio NoviTango and pay my respect to it's fine musicians."
Laura Escalada Piazzolla, the late composer's wife commented: "I listened to the Trio NoviTango's interpretations of my husband's music with deep interest and great expectations. I was not only surprised, but deeply satisfied with the wonderful arrangements that stay true to his unique style. Mr. Robert Cima, the Trio's wonderful violoncello player gives a certain drama to their performance, while the sensitive viola of Juan Lucas Aisemberg is expressing romance and great passion. And then there is Hugo Aisemberg, the piano virtuoso, who teases the purest notes out of Piazzolla's tangos, enriching the music with unbelievable and wonderful caprioles."
In Argentina, the Trio was given a special reward from the country's presidentas an appreciation of its world-wide commitment to the music of Argentina.
For the recording of "Evasion" the Trio NoviTango changed to NoviTango 6, keeping the intimate character of the Trio's interpretations and enrichening the sound with three more instruments - violin, flute and double bass.
If it’s really true that Piazzolla always felt drawn towards chamber music (especially in his last years - come to think of his cooperation with the "Quartetto di Mantova" and, first of all, the "Kronos Quartet"), we think he would really be very delighted about NOVITANGO's way of transforming his music into chamber music.
In the "Four Seasons" (Otono Porteño, Invierno Porteño, Primavera Porteña und Verano Porteño) the sextet enlarged José Bragato’s (cello player and friend/collaborator of Piazzolla’s) arrangement for string quartet and piano, which itself originated from the early 1970’s version of Piazzolla, by adding a double bass and exchanging the second violin for a flute.
In "Concierto para Quinteto" NOVITANGO rearranged Piazzollas version for his quintet for strings and piano.
Piazzolla composed the "Lumière"-suite for the film of the same title of Jeanne Moreau. In "La Mort" Francesco Manna puts his flute aside for a moment to give strength to the last poundings of his weary heart once again with the "bombo". Right after that he picks it up again for his wonderful solos in "L’amour" and "L’evasion".
"Libertango" is one of the potpourris that NOVITANGO likes to embellish more and more.
NOVITANGO also sees itself a musical ambassador of the "Centro Astor Piazzolla" in Italy, an institution founded by Hugo Aisemberg in order to spread Argentinean culture in general - and especially the tango. The centre’s honorary chairwoman is Mrs. Laura Escalada Piazzolla.
 
 
Trio NoviTango:
 
Juan Lucas Aisemberg (viola)
Born in Budapest in 1967, he initiated violin studies with Lina Pettinelli in Rome.In 1984 he joined the „International Menuhin Music Academy“ in Gstaad (Switzerland) as viola player, studying with maestri Alberto Lysy and Paul Coletti. As a member of the „Camerata Lysy“, he performed at the most important music festivals, both as soloist and in chamber music groups.
Since 1987 he has been living in Berlin, where he studied at the „Hochschule der Künste“ under the guidance of Bruno Giuranna. In 1997 he graduated with his "Konzertdiplom".
1990-1992: studies of chamber music with the members of the „Amadeus Quartett“ (Norbert Brainin, Siegmund Nissel, and Martin Lovett).
Since 1993 he has been full member with the orchestra of the „Deutsche Oper“ in Berlin as viola player, and presently he is completing his studies with maestro Robert Jeremias.
 
Roberto Cima (cello)
Born in 1967 in Cattolica (Italy), he initiated his musical education under the guidance of maestro Sante Amadori at the conservatory „Gioacchino Rossini“ in Pesaro (Italy), graduating in 1989 with full marks. He won numerous national musical competitions and has participated in several master courses with Pierre Fournier and Radu Aldulescu. With the latter he studied at the „International Menuhin Music Acadamy“ in Gstaad (Switzerland), then becomes a member of the „Camerata Lysy“ and performs with them all over Europe, also as soloist.
He picks up further cello-studies at the „Hochschule für Musik“ in Cologne with Boris Pergamentchicov, as well as a chamber musician with the „Amadeus Quartett“ (Norbert Brainin, Siegmund Nissel, and Martin Lovett). From 1991 to 1993 he studied with maestro Walter Nothas at the „Hochschule für Musik“ in Munich, where he graduated with full marks and honours.
Roberto Cima is regularly invited to play with Italy’s best orchestras.
 
Hugo Aisemberg (piano)
Argentinian pianist born in Buenos Aires in 1938, where he graduated at the Municipal Conservatory of his home town with top marks and honours. Aisemberg has been living in Italy since 1971. After his graduation, he immediately was awarded a scholarship by the Hungarian government. He attended the „Franz Liszt“ academy in Budapest for two years, studying piano with Ambrozy Bela and chamber music with Petry Endre. He has performed in South America and the leading European cities as soloist as well as a member of various chamber music groups, for example with Alberto Lysy, Arrigo Peliccia, Cesare Ferraresi, Rocco Filippini.
Hugo Aisemberg has been dedicating himself for more than thirty years to the study of Latin-American popular music; in 1987 he was co-founder of the instrumental group „NoviTango“, that is mainly concerned with the diffusion of the music of the Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla. The group toured through France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, where they performed as guests of the most import concert companies (Accademia Filarmonica Romana, Instituzione Universitaria dei Concerti di Roma, Ente Concerti di Pesaro, Amici dl Teatro di Pescara, etc.).
Collaboration with other artists in the production of theatrical plays as well as musical and dance performances.
Hugo Aisemberg teaches piano at the conservatory „Gioacchino Rossini“ in Pesaro. He is one of the founders of the „Associazione Musicale di Pesaro“, which has developed into the „Centro Astor Piazzolla“, an association concerned with the diffusion of the Tango and Argentinian culture in general.
In 1998 Hugo Aisemberg released his solo album "Solo Tango"(RIENCD16) with Oriente Musik.
 
 
NoviTango 6 consists of the three musicians of Trio NoviTango and:
 
Isabella Piccioni (violin)
Born 1966 in Ancona (Italy). First violin lessons with Adrio Casagrande, further training with Fabrizio Salterini at the conservatory „Gioacchino Rossini“ in Pesara (Italy). She finishes her violin studies in 1988 with the best results and marks. Already in 1984 she received an award at the „Rassegna per Giovani Violinisti“ in Vittorio Veneto (Italy). From 1985 to 1988 she studied at the „International Menuhin Music Academy“ in Gstaad (Switzerland) with Alberto Lysy. As member of the „Camerata Lysy“ performances as soloist together with Yehudi Menuhin and Alberto Lysy all over Europe as well as in Canada, Argentina, Hongkong and Japan.
From 1990 to 1992 Isabella Piccioni studied chamber music with members of the „Amadeus Quartett“ (Norbert Brainin, Siegmund Nissel, and Martin Lovett). In 1992 she gets her master class diploma at the „Hochschule für Musik“ in Munich under direction of violonist Ana Chumachenco.
Since 1993 she ist a permanent member of the Opera in Nice (France).
At present she attends extended training classes with Corrado Romano.
 
Bruno Tommaso (double bass)
Tommaso received his musical education at the conservatory „Santa Cecilia“ in Rome, graduating both as double bassist under the guidance of maestro Salvatore Pitzianti and as jazz musician with Giorgio Gaslini. He studied composition with Paolo Renosto and performed as a member of several ensembles in the field of medieval music, music of the Renaissance, Baroque and temporary music.
Bruno Tommaso concerns himself most of all with jazz and musical border areas. He participated at national and international concerts and festivals. His musical activities and coopoeration with famous musicians is documented in more than one hundred records, as well as radio and TV-recordings.
Concert tours all over Europe, the US, India, and China.
Participation at the „Italian Instable Orchestra“ and conductor of the „Marche Jazz Band“.
He organizes classes for enhanced studies and seminars in numerous Italian cities and abroad.
1978-1996: collaboration in the association „Siena Jazz“.
Holder of a chair of double bass at the conservatory „Gioacchino Rossini“ in Pesaro (Italy).
1989-1990: first president of the „Associazione Nazionale Musicisti di Jazz“, cooperation an director of the „Scuola Popolare di Musica di Testaccio“ in Rome.
Bruno Tommaso is the conductor of the orchestra of the „Concorso Internazionale di Composizione e Arrangiamento Jazz“ in Barga (Italy).
 
Francesco Manna (flute)
In 1989, Manna graduated as flutist under the direction of maestro Albino Mattei at the conservatory „Gioacchino Rossini“ in Pesaro (Italy) with full marks and honours. He has participated in numerous classes for enhanced studies with famous concertmasters as Maxence Larrieu, Marzio Conti and Mario Ancillotti. Under the latter’s direction he takes part in a three year course at the music school in Fiesole (Italy).
1989: winner of the first award for soloists at the international musical contest „Città di Stresa“ (Italy). Many performances as soloist and as a member of various chamber music groups.
1991: collaboration with the „Orchestra Sinfonica di San Remo“ (Italy), and in recent times he worked at the conservatory „Gioacchino Rossini“ in Pesaro under the direction of Michele Marvulli, to celebrate the composer’s 200th anniversary.

In 2001 Hugo and Juan Lucas Aisemberg formed, together with bass player Diego Zacharies, the TRIOPLATENSE ensemble and released their first CD "Vayamos al diablo" (RIENCD38) with Oriente Musik in 2002.