Executive & Artistic Director
Thor Steingraber
________
Quinteto Astor Piazzolla
Oblivion Tour
Sat Mar 21 | 8PM
Run time: approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes including a 20-minute intermission ________ Program | Program Note
An Interview With Quinteto Astor Piazzolla
________
Program
“Decarisimo” “Thriller” “Soledad” “Milonga Loca” “Zita” “Triunfal” “Contrabajíssimo” “Fugata” “Escualo” “Verano Porteño” “Oblivion” “Adios Nonino” “Primavera Porteña”
________
Musicians
Pablo Mainetti | Bandoneon Matías Feigin | Piano Serdar Geldymuradov | Violin Armando de la Vega | Guitar Cristian Basto | Double Bass
Securing The Soraya’s Future
Support the Thor Steingraber Fund for Artistic Innovation to help us continue to bring new works, world premieres, and bold collaborations to life
In the fall of 2015, my family and I attended a performance at the Valley Performing Arts Center at CSUN. My son, David, had received his undergraduate degree from CSUN many years prior, and we were pleased to see how the campus had grown. The recollections that stand out most in my memory from that evening were the extraordinary venue, its artistic excellence, and my first time meeting Thor Steingraber. For those reasons, my family decided in 2017 to invest in The Soraya’s future and long-term sustainability. In the 10 years since, we have come to know Thor and his vision. Through his leadership, we have witnessed values we so admire come to life on this stage — in the artists, their work, and the experiences they create for Los Angeles’ many communities and for CSUN students. Thor’s dedication and imagination serve so many, and it is my wish that his legacy be preserved. In honor and recognition of Thor’s accomplishments, I am pleased to announce a new fund supporting the art and artists who will continue this work: the Thor Steingraber Fund for Artistic Innovation. From the performance that first introduced my family to this majestic venue a decade ago, to the many moments of beauty and inspiration that have graced its stage since, we have Thor to thank. I hope you will join me and my family in supporting this effort — to ensure that these performances, and the spirit they embody, thrive long into the future.
— Soraya Sarah Nazarian
Program Note
In its relatively short history, The Soraya has presented artists from over 40 nations. This is no coincidence. Global artistry is a key piece of our mission, as well as our commitment to the many diverse communities of Los Angeles. This month, we have curated programs that represent Armenia, Mexico, Argentina, and West Africa. In the case of Ballet Hispánico, we present their version of Carmen, a Spanish story told in a French opera adapted by a New York dance company. While these performances each serve unique audiences, they are also an opportunity for us to come together to set aside our identities and individual tastes — to adopt a broad and inclusive stance, to learn, to celebrate. A decade ago, when contemplating our programs and commitment to international artistry and culture, I wrote a version of these words below. As conflict escalates on multiple continents, I believe they resonate today as they did then. “Music Knows No Borders” The concert hall is an inclusive place. Hands clap and feet stomp regardless of nation of origin, religion, or cultural background. The communal joy of music is immediate and intergenerational. Music does not discriminate. Some borders are ancient — forged in mountains or carved by rivers. Other borders are man-made — ephemeral, arbitrary, disputed. Music unites across geography. It flows, permeates, and transcends. Music knows no borders. Friday jazz descends from Sunday worship. Radio call letters cannot divide classical music from country. Latin rhythms were born from African beats. Even sacred music is nondenominational. Melody and rhythm are universal. Music thrives in Los Angeles at the crossroads of three continents, in the world’s creative capital. From the experimental to the traditional, we give voice to them all at The Soraya. This is the foremost value, onstage and anywhere people gather here.
Gratefully,
Thor Steingraber
Executive and Artistic Director, Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts
Quinteto Astor Piazzolla
For more than 25 years, the Astor Piazzolla Quintet has preserved and honored the legacy of revolutionary bandoneon player and composer Astor Piazzolla. Throughout their extensive career, the Quintet has toured throughout the United States, Latin America, Europe, Australia, and Asia, earning praise from critics as well as receiving numerous prestigious awards. Among their most notable achievements are two Latin GRAMMY® Awards for Best Tango Album (2019 and 2023). The Quintet is composed of five virtuoso soloists, all deeply committed to Piazzolla’s aesthetics and artistically shaped under his direct influence. Under the musical direction of Julián Vat, the Quintet keeps alive Piazzolla’s extensive body of work, preserving the essence of his transformation of tango into a unique art form. In 1960, Astor Piazzolla formed his original Quintet, choosing the bandoneon, violin, electric guitar, piano, and double bass as the key instruments. This lineup played a vital role in the development of nuevo tango, a genre he pioneered throughout that decade, leaving a lasting impact on the history of world music. The musicians who accompanied Piazzolla were exceptional performers, valued by the maestro for their ability to reinterpret and enrich his music with their own unique style and personality. During the 1970s, Piazzolla’s move to Europe led to a pause in the Quintet. However, in 1978, the Quintet reunited with a new mix of musicians, accompanying him until 1988. This period marked Piazzolla’s rise to international fame, with a repertoire blending the nuevo tango of the 1960s with innovative new compositions that gave birth to authentic masterpieces. In recent years, the Astor Piazzolla Quintet has released five albums and a series of singles, not only celebrating the composer’s vast legacy but also recovering and revaluing some of his lesser-known compositions of exceptional musical value. Among their most recent albums are Revolucionario, Fugata, En 3x4, Triunfal, and Operation Tango. With remarkable interpretative skill, the Quintet has revitalized Piazzolla’s classics and lesser-known works with a fresh spirit, making their music feel as though it emerges directly from the composer’s mind. To honor and celebrate the work of this musical genius, the Astor Piazzolla Quintet offers a unique experience that pays tribute to his expansive creative universe. In a single concert, the Quintet combines and contrasts Piazzolla’s academic works with his popular repertoire, highlighting different moments of creativity, intensity, and passion. Their music connects the past with the present, preserving the essence of one of the greatest musical geniuses of the 20th century.
An Interview With Quinteto Astor Piazzolla
The Soraya
The Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya/Producer) is an award-winning, state-of-the-art 1,700-seat theater that opened in 2011 as the Valley Performing Arts Center. Through a transformative gift by Younes and Soraya Nazarian, the venue was renamed The Soraya in 2017. The Soraya is located on the campus of California State University, Northridge, the intellectual and cultural heart of the San Fernando Valley.
Executive and Artistic Director Thor Steingraber, in his 12th year leading the organization, sums up what makes The Soraya a central piece of Los Angeles arts and culture. “At The Soraya, we hold a high standard of excellence for every performance from a vast array of artistic disciplines, and we hold steadfast to our commitment to the value and impact of the performing arts in community-building, for the Valley’s 1.8 million residents and beyond.”
The Soraya’s 2025–26 Season is a journey through the expansive sounds of orchestras, the freestyle vibes of jazz, the innovations of dance luminaries, and a vast array of global voices. The Soraya continues its vigorous commitment to excelling, innovating, and amplifying access for Valley residents, students, and arts lovers across Southern California.