Sexteto Mayor

Sexteto Mayor is a tango sextet founded by José Libertella and Luis Stazo in 1973 ^[1]. Its first performances took place in April of that year at La Casa de Carlos Gardel ^[1].

The ensemble received the Premio Gardel de Oro from CAPIF in 1976 ^[1]. On 19 November 1981 it opened Trottoirs de Buenos Aires in Paris ^[2]. From 1983 it spent nine years as the orchestra of the show Tango Argentino, beginning in Paris ^[1]. The show reached Broadway in 1985 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre, where it ran for six months ^[1].

In 1993 the sextet premiered the show Tango Pasión in Miami and then performed it on Broadway and in Munich ^[1]. In 1996 it toured Europe and Asia, giving 264 performances ^[1]. It won the Latin Grammy for Homenaje a Piazzolla in 2003 ^[1].

Co-founder José Libertella died in Paris on 8 December 2004 while on tour with the sextet ^[3]. In 2005 Luis Stazo left the group, and Horacio Romo became director after a brief period under Walter Ríos ^[1]. Violinist Mario Abramovich, a member since 1973, died in 2014, and Pablo Agri joined the ensemble ^[1].

History

### Formation and early years (1973–1980)

José Libertella and Luis Stazo founded Sexteto Mayor in 1973 ^[1]. The sextet made its debut in April 1973 at La Casa de Carlos Gardel ^[1]. Violinist Mario Abramovich was a member from 1973 ^[1]. In 1976 the group received the Premio Gardel de Oro, awarded by CAPIF ^[1].

### Paris and Tango Argentino (1981–1992)

On 19 November 1981 Sexteto Mayor opened Trottoirs de Buenos Aires in Paris ^[2]. In 1983 the sextet began a nine-year engagement as the orchestra of the show Tango Argentino, which started in Paris ^[1]. In 1985 Tango Argentino opened on Broadway at the Mark Hellinger Theatre and ran for six months ^[1].

### Tango Pasión and international touring (1993–2003)

In 1993 the sextet premiered the show Tango Pasión in Miami, then took it to Broadway and to Munich ^[1]. In 1996 the group toured Europe and Asia, with 264 performances ^[1]. In 2003 it won the Latin Grammy for Homenaje a Piazzolla ^[1].

### Changes in leadership (2004 onward)

José Libertella died in Paris on 8 December 2004, during a tour with the sextet ^[3]. In 2005 Luis Stazo left the ensemble ^[1]. Walter Ríos directed the group briefly, after which Horacio Romo became its director ^[1]. In 2014 violinist Mario Abramovich died, and Pablo Agri joined the sextet ^[1].

Members and directors

Members and directors named in the sources include ^[1]:

- José Libertella, co-founder, who died in Paris on 8 December 2004 while on tour with the sextet ^[1][3] - Luis Stazo, co-founder, who left in 2005 ^[1] - Walter Ríos, who directed the sextet briefly after Stazo's departure ^[1] - Horacio Romo, who became director after Walter Ríos ^[1] - Mario Abramovich, violinist and member from 1973 until his death in 2014 ^[1] - Pablo Agri, who joined in 2014 ^[1]

Stage shows

Sexteto Mayor was associated with several theatrical productions ^[1]. It served as the orchestra of Tango Argentino for nine years from 1983, starting in Paris and including a six-month Broadway run at the Mark Hellinger Theatre in 1985 ^[1]. In 1993 it premiered Tango Pasión in Miami, followed by performances on Broadway and in Munich ^[1]. In 1981 it opened Trottoirs de Buenos Aires in Paris ^[2].

Recordings and awards

The sextet received the Premio Gardel de Oro from CAPIF in 1976 ^[1]. Its recording Homenaje a Piazzolla won the Latin Grammy in 2003 ^[1].