Previewed by Daina Janitis
(Pictured: Members of Payadora Tango Ensemble – Mark Camilleri, Drew Jurecka, Rebekah Wolkstein, Elbio Fernandez, and Joe Phillips.)
Is there a heaven? And if there is, may I put in a request to end up here for eternity – with Antonio Banderas giving me tango lessons: https://youtu.be/6lAKlYTQVKY?si=cr3HQPzb1PvaROj-
Tango did not begin in a sad dance studio in Brooklyn. Tango is a passionate, provocative music and dance style that began in the working-class bars and brothels of Buenos Aires and Montevideo in the late 1800s, emerging from a melting pot of African, European, and local influences. Born where desire and melancholy intertwined, tango quickly became infamous for its sensuality and daring social dynamics—people danced close, in smoky rooms where the music’s erotic undertones mirrored the pulse of the city’s nightlife. It swept into the salons of Paris and beyond, transforming from a sultry scandal to an international sensation, all while keeping traces of its rebellious origins. (All right, while I fan my fevered brow, I’ll admit I got this history through AI research)
Tango’s music is syncopated rhythms played on bandoneon, violin, piano, and double bass – sometimes with voice that punches even higher on the emotional gauge.
Tango was danced by immigrants, misfits, and the marginalized in port neighbourhoods. Its lyrics and notes embody carnal passion. Its performance scandalized polite society but, naturally, fascinated them as well.
Today, Tango Nuevo renews the music and the dance for its sensuality, nostalgia, and emotional storytelling. It blends high drama, cultural fusion, and the thrill of improvisation. Check out this instructional video on dancing Tango Nuevo: https://youtu.be/2mtoTyMns8o?si=ENxIAGDhyPUjduGd
Who are the members you’ll hear – and later meet- of Payadora? The brilliant musicians were drawn together in 2013 by their love of this unique music. And their ensemble’s name? A payador is a male improvising poet-musician in South America, particularly Argentina and Uruguay (the feminine form is Payadora). These musical vagabonds roam the countryside, improvising verses, often accompanied by a guitar, to respond to rivals in a musical contest known as a contrapunto.
So, at The Met (corner of Wellington and Dufferin), how will you be hearing and seeing?
Our beloved composer-in—residence, Scott Good, will conduct members of London Symphonia and the musical powerhouses of Payadora.
(Pictured: London Symphonia’s Composer-In-Residence, Scott Good.)
Rebekah Wolkstein is the founder and leader of Payadora. She holds a doctorate in Violin Performance from U of T, plays in a classical string quartet- and excels in klezmer/Yiddish swing!
(Pictured: Rebekah Wolkstein, founder and leader of Payadora. Photo by Peter Yuan.)
Joe Philips– our hometown boy who lives here and is principal bass of London Symphonia – was born in Toronto. He also plays classical guitar and has appeared with orchestras and musical artists too varied – and many – to mention. I’ll just pop in Joel Quarrington’s name and Shane Cook’s, and the TSO, and Le Violons de Roi.
(Pictured: Joe Phillips, principal bass of London Symphonia.)
Drew Jurecka, an impressive jazz and classical violinist, began as the record producer of Payadora’s albums. His gifts on viola, saxophone, clarinet, and mandolin have made him a valued addition to performances by Jeff Healey, Jesse Cook, Stewart MacLean, and Alex Pangman. He’s composed movie scores- and takes time to teach at Humber College, where he’s created the only jazz strings program in Canada.
Drew is also the group’s bandoneon player – what is that, you ask? According to a post from the Los Angeles Tango Academy, “The bandoneon is a large, rather complicated concertina originally developed in Germany for churches that could not afford organs.”
(Pictured: Drew Jurecka playing the bandoneon. Photo by Karen E. Reeves.)
This monster of reed instruments has no keyboard, so it’s not the accordion we all conspire to keep Uncle Heinrich from playing at Christmas. It’s got 71 buttons, 38 for the right hand and 33 for the left. The musician uses both hands to push and pull air through bellows.
And for Mark Camilleri, music is life. Mark’s entire professional life embraces music, and he has had a wonderfully varied career for over 35 years. As Marvin Hamlisch put it, “Mark Camilleri, or ‘Mr. Canada, as I call him, is a one-man does-it-all musical powerhouse, whether he’s conducting, playing keyboards, or arranging.”
Mark has conducted countless shows for Mirvish, worked with film directors, and performed from the Vatican to the Oprah Winfrey show. He’s shared the stage with Andrea Bocelli, Celine Dion, Annie Lennox, and Eric Clapton.
And the vocals!
Elbio Fernandez is apparently known as El pequeño gigante del tango” (the little giant of tango) – but I’m not judging. Born in Uruguay, he is now a Canadian who performs around the world.
(Pictured: Payadora vocalist, Elbio Fernandez. Photo by Peter Yuan.)
And this Saturday, at 7:30pm, you can dream of being young, lithe, sensual, and worthy of someone asking you to tango.
To quote Sherman Alexie, ”If you really want a woman to love you, then you have to dance. And if you don’t want to dance, then you’re going to have to work extra hard to make a woman love you forever, and you will always run the risk that she will leave you at any second for a man who knows how to tango.”
IF YOU GO:
WHAT: LONDON SYMPHONIA CONCERT
Payadora – The Soul of Tango
London Symphonia, Scott Good, conductor, Payadora Tango Ensemble.
WHEN: Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 7:30 pm. Doors open at 6:30pm
WHERE: Metropolitan United Church, 468 Wellington St, London, ON.
SUBSCRIPTIONS & TICKETS: Ticket packages start at $155 for a 3-concert General Admission subscription and $212 for Reserved Seating, plus fees and HST. 5-concert packages are also available. Individual adult tickets range from $55 General Admission to $75 Reserved Seating, plus fees and HST. Family Flex packs and free student tickets are also available. In-person subscriptions and tickets can be purchased online now at londonsymphonia.ca.
Subscriptions to all concerts, including the Family Concert, and individual concert rentals are available on London Symphonia’s Watch and Listen video on demand channel.
Find out more at londonsymphonia.ca.
Follow London Symphonia on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/londonsymphonia
To learn more about Payadora, visit http://payadora.com/
Follow Payadora on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/payadora
Previewed by Daina Janitis
The Beat Magazine 2025 