Payadora Ensemble
“A World Class Contemporary Chamber Ensemble” - Ottawa Citizen
“The beloved ensemble that is tango and beyond. It is world. It is classical. It is jazz. It is tango…a delicious swirl of music that is the Payadora Ensemble.” - Classical 96.3 FM
Payadora is an award-winning chamber music ensemble that performs original compositions as well as original arrangements of a core repertoire drawing from Argentinian/Uruguayan Tango and Folk music. Made up of a group of players who are each musical powerhouses in their own right, this “superstar group” has combined their their deep knowledge of tango with their classical, jazz and world music backgrounds to create something entirely new. Payadora is officially endorsed by the Argentinian Consulate in Toronto for its adherence to the spirit of tango Their performances convey joy, virtuosity, humour and their intense passion for the music that they play.
Payadora won the 2024 Folk Music Ontario Award for best album for their critically acclaimed album “Silent Tears: The Last Yiddish Tango.” The album reached #1 on the World Music Charts in Europe, accompanied by rave reviews, airtime, and press coverage around the globe, including the BBC, CTV, CBC television and radio, the Bangkok Post, NPR, and RTE Irish Public Radio. “…The most memorable release I have ever had the privilege to listen to and review” (WholeNote Magazine). They have been named on “Best of” lists on NPR’s Rhythm Atlas, Finnish National Radio and CBC Classical. They were also nominated for the Folk Music Awards as “Best Performing Artists.”
Payadora won the German world music prize in 2024 (Weltmusikpreis RUTH award) and performed at the famous world music festival, Rudolstadt where they received the award.
“Playful, Spontaneous and Sexy!” -Classical 96.3 FM
They are currently touring Tango Apasionado- a music act or music/dance performed with PointeTango Dance Company (fusion ballet/tango duo) and The Legend of Carau- a legend told through original music, illustrations, narration and videos of dance filmed in Argentina. They are also touring their album, “Silent Tears: The Last Yiddish Tango” , released by Six Degrees Records, the critically acclaimed for which they composed and arranged music based on testimonies of women who survived the Holocaust. It has received rave reviews and press coverage around the globe, including reports on the BBC, CTV, CBC television and radio, the Bangkok Post, NPR, and RTE Irish Public Radio. “Moving, heartbreaking… the most memorable release I have ever had the privilege to listen to and review.”- Wholenote
Payadora’s lineup features some of the most respected chamber musicians in Canada: Rebekah Wolkstein (violin, vocals), Drew Jurecka (bandoneon, violin, mandolin), Joseph Phillips (double bass, guitar) Mark Camilleri (piano) and Elbio Fernandez (vocals).
“With influences from Argentina to Eastern Europe to the great Astor Piazzolla, Payadora plays the tango like it’s meant to be: sultry, steamy, but with grace and precision. You will be entertained!” - Words + Music magazine
Founded in 2013, Payadora’s broad scope in tango draws from the height of Buenos Aires’ Tango tradition, including compositions by De Caro, Pugliese, Troilo, and Salgan, to the masterful, contemporary sounds of Astor Piazzolla and beyond. They compose and arrange their own repertoire. They created and recorded the score for a one hour film with PointeTango Dance Company with whom they are performing upcoming shows at Toronto Summer Music Festival and various festivals. They have received creation and recording grants from Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Arts Council. They received a generous grant from the Canada Council for the Arts to create a multi-arts digital presentation telling an Argentine folk tale through music, dance, illustration and words This project will be free to the public and online in June 2023. Their newest album was in the top 20 albums on the Transglobal World Music Chart.