Antonio Agri

Antonio Agri was born on 5 May 1932 ^[3]. He made his professional debut at the age of fifteen, in 1947, playing with a quartet in Córdoba province ^[1].

Agri led several ensembles under his own name. In 1961 he founded the Quinteto de Arcos de Antonio Agri ^[2]. In 1976 he formed his own string ensemble made up of players from the Teatro Colón ^[1].

He also worked extensively with Astor Piazzolla. He joined Piazzolla's Quinteto Nuevo Tango in April 1962, played in Piazzolla's Nuevo Octeto in 1963, and was solo violin in Piazzolla and Ferrer's María de Buenos Aires in 1968 ^[1]. He appeared in films by Simón Feldman and Carlos Saura, and he died in Buenos Aires on 17 October 1998 ^[1][2].

Early career

Agri was born on 5 May 1932 ^[3]. His professional debut came in 1947, at fifteen, when he performed with a quartet in Córdoba province ^[1]. The dossier records nothing about his musical training or the name of that first quartet ^[1].

Quinteto de Arcos

In 1961 Agri founded the Quinteto de Arcos de Antonio Agri ^[2]. The available sources give no information on its members, repertoire or recordings ^[2].

With Astor Piazzolla

In April 1962 Agri joined Astor Piazzolla's Quinteto Nuevo Tango ^[1]. In 1963 he played in Piazzolla's Nuevo Octeto ^[1].

In 1968 Agri was the solo violin in María de Buenos Aires, the work by Piazzolla and Ferrer ^[1].

Teatro Colón and later ensembles

In 1974 Agri joined the Orquesta Estable of the Teatro Colón ^[2]. Two years later, in 1976, he formed his own string ensemble made up of players from the Colón ^[1].

In 1996 he recorded his composition Kokoró Kará in Paris with the Mosalini-Agri quintet ^[1].

Film appearances

Agri appeared in Simón Feldman's film Tango argentino in 1969 ^[2]. In 1998 he appeared in Carlos Saura's film Tango, no me dejes nunca ^[2].

Death

Agri died in Buenos Aires on 17 October 1998 ^[1].