Step into the world of tango music in this intensive workshop, open to all instruments and levels, led by two major figures in contemporary tango: bandoneonist Víctor Hugo Villena and pianist and educator Bárbara Varassi Pega. Through a rich and immersive program, this workshop offers a deep dive into the interpretation of tango.

Participants will explore stylistic nuances, rhythmic and melodic subtleties, and various ways of performing, improvising, arranging, and even leading an ensemble. The program includes musical analysis, improvisation techniques (parrilla), work on custom arrangements, and exploration of both traditional and contemporary repertoires. Ensembles will be formed on-site based on each participant’s level and instrument.

This workshop, a true musical laboratory, will also emphasize experimentation through crossover sessions blending tango with other musical languages. Víctor Hugo Villena and Bárbara Varassi Pega will generously share their experience and passion to provide the tools necessary for a sensitive, precise, and personal interpretation of this profound and vibrant music.

Workshop Program

• Ensembles formed on-site by level and instrument

• Solo and group interpretation

• Musical analysis

• Improvisation and parrilla playing

• Traditional repertoire and contemporary creations

• Ensemble conducting techniques

• Study of pieces sent in advance by the instructors

• Articulation, accentuation, and special effects

• Ornamentation, phrasing, stylistic variations, and interpretation

• Crossover & improvisation: spontaneous playing and exploration of other musical languages

• Tango toolbox: analysis of masterpieces, active listening, arranging and composition techniques

Biographies

Víctor Hugo Villena
Born in Argentina in 1979, Víctor Hugo Villena was recognized as a “breakthrough bandoneonist” at the age of 17 by the National Academy of Tango in Buenos Aires. Winner of the Best Soloist award in the 1997 national competition in Argentina, he moved to France in 1999, launching a brilliant international career.

Praised by the international press—The New York Times called him a "master of the instrument"—Villena has become one of the leading names in contemporary bandoneon performance. Alongside his career as a soloist, he has also been a committed educator since 2004, having trained many bandoneonists now active in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Bárbara Varassi Pega
A multidisciplinary artist—pianist, composer, arranger, researcher, and educator—Bárbara Varassi Pega was born in Rosario, Argentina, and is a specialist in tango from the Río de la Plata region. She pursues an international career with tours, recordings, publications, and interdisciplinary creations combining music, theatre, dance, puppetry, visual and audiovisual arts.

Bárbara is a member of the Astor Piazzolla Quintet, winner of the Latin Grammy for Best Tango Album in 2019 and 2023. She is also involved in interdisciplinary and ecological projects, including the album Water, the Water Gardenercollective, and her solo album Íntimas.

Alongside her artistic work, she teaches piano, ensemble, and artistic research at Codarts University of the Arts(Rotterdam), where she also coordinates the tango department. She is also a research coach at Fontys University of the Arts (Tilburg). A Doctor of Music from Leiden University (docARTES program), she is the author of The Art of Tango(Routledge, 2021). She was awarded the Distinguished Women Scientists Fund (Netherlands, 2023–2024) and frequently contributes to international conferences and projects.