PORTLAND TANGO ENSEMBLE TO DEBUT AT CHAMBER MUSIC ON TAP
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Portland, Ore. … Portland's newly formed "Tango Pacifico," led by Oregon Symphony Assistant Concertmaster Erin Furbee, will perform a rousing evening of passionate works that include the enduring tango standards of old and the "Tango Nuevo" style of Astor Piazzolla at the final Chamber Music on Tap concert of the season Wednesday, May 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. at BridgePort BrewPub (1313 N.W. Marshall St., Portland). Chamber Music on Tap, sponsored by BridgePort Brewing Company, is presented by Fortissimo, the Oregon Symphony's young professional volunteer organization.

Comprised of pianist Mika Sunago and Symphony musicians Todd Kuhns (clarinet), Jeffrey Johnson (bass) and Furbee (violin), "Tango Pacifico" will perform "Tanguera," "Nocturna," "Soledad," "Oblivion," "Milonga del Angel," "Libertango" and more. Soprano Janice Johnson will join the group in performances of Piazzolla's "Preparense" and two pieces made popular by famous Argentine singer and actor Carlos Gardel, "Volver" and "Por una Cabeza."

A series of tango works for string quartet featuring Symphony musicians Matthew Faust (violin), Joël Belgique (Principal Viola), Nancy Ives (Principal Cello) and Furbee is also scheduled, which includes "La Cumparsita," "Tanguedia," "Four for Tango" and "Celos."

Furbee and Sunago also will perform violin/piano duos by Piazzolla, including "Esqualo," "Patchouli," "Fracanapa," "Adios Nonino" and "Riverado."

Furbee is a veteran tango violinist who, prior to joining the Symphony in 2001, played with the Colorado Symphony and in the Mariposa Piano Trio. While in Denver she also co-founded a four-piece Tango band called Extasis, which played for a large Argentine tango community of dancers in Colorado. In 1999 she traveled to Buenos Aires to play and study with several tango orchestras.

Chamber Music on Tap is held upstairs in the BridgePort BrewPub's Heritage Room every third Wednesday of each month from September through May. The concerts provide audience members the opportunity to interact with musicians and socialize while sampling the brewery's homemade pizza and handcrafted, award-winning ales in the pub's unique building, a 100-year-old former rope factory. A tour of the brewery will be offered immediately following the performance.

Tickets are $6 for Fortissimo members, $10 for the general public and may be purchased in advance at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office (923 S.W. Washington), Monday - Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or charged by phone at 503-228-1353 or (800) 228-7343. Tickets also may be purchased at the door, if available. All proceeds from the evening benefit the Oregon Symphony.