“here is the tango, raw, intoxicating, speaking with its true voice.” – Financial Times
“composer and bandoneon master Julian Rowlands ensures that the evening reaches the state of tango nirvana” – The Guardian
Julian Rowlands is a bandoneonist, pianist, composer and arranger based in London, UK. He specialises in tango music including the works of Astor Piazzolla, as well as opera, classical, contemporary and world music. As a performer he appears in concert and stage performers as well as on TV, radio and recording sessions, on the West End stage, and in concert halls, theatres, and opera houses.
Julian has often played on BBC TV “Strictly Come Dancing” and has appeared on “The One Show” , “Zingzillas”, ITV’s “Surprise Surprise”, BBC Radio 3’s “In Tune” and “The Sound of Dance”, BBC Radio 4 “Front Row”, and “The Tom Robinson Show” on Radio 6.
Artists and ensembles with whom he has worked include the Philharmonia Orchestra, Philharmonia Chamber Players, the soloists of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, the City of London Sinfonia, Chineke, the RTE Concert Orchestra, The National Symphony Orchestra (Dublin), The Desbande Quintet, Erwin Schrott, Fatma Said and Omar Puente.
Julian Rowlands’ repertoire includes Bach, Schubert and Schumann; the major works of Astor Piazzolla: the concertos, quintets, Tango Sensations and solo arrangements; the operas Maria de Buenos Aires (Piazzolla) and Mahagonny (Weill); the Misa a Buenos Aires (Misatango), Nisi Dominus and Magnificat by Martin Palmieri; solo classical pieces, traditional and contemporary tango arrangements, chamber music, and his own compositions.
Together with Ros Stephen and Jonathan Taylor of Tango Siempre, Julian created the score for the Olivier-nominated “Midnight Tango” starring Flavia Cacace and Vincent Simone, and appeared in its 480 performances in the west end and on tour from 2011-2013. Other composing and arranging credits include “Flying into daylight” by Emmy award winning writer Ron Hutchinson, Tangomotion and other Tango Siempre productions, and Violetta’s Last tango.
Publications by Julian Rowlands in the Schott World Music series include “Argentinian Tango and Folk Tunes for Piano”, “Russian Folk Tunes for Piano“, “Russian Folk Tunes for Accordion“, “Klezmer Piano” and “Klezmer Fiddle” (with Ros Stephen).