About
Iguazú Quintet was born within the walls of the Royal Conservatory of Mons (ARTS²) in early 2016, initially as a standard chamber music project. Having fallen in love several years earlier with the music of Astor Piazzolla, guitarist Wynand Mawet decided to explore this repertoire through the traditional formation created by the Argentinian master: the Tango Nuevo quintet.
He brought together fellow conservatory students united by a shared passion for music that is both modern and deeply rooted in cultural cross-pollination. Coming from diverse musical backgrounds, spanning classical music, jazz, pop, and world music, the members of Iguazú Quintet explore Tango Nuevo by drawing inspiration from the final years of Astor Piazzolla’s career and his Conjunto Electrónico, with its more jazz-inflected and electric sound. They thus offer a younger take on the music of the Argentinian master, freely making the composer’s works their own and incorporating elements of improvisation.
Following the release of their first album, Amancay – Hommage à Astor Piazzolla, recorded at Dada Studios in August 2019, Iguazú Quintet decided to take an important turn in its choice of repertoire, moving somewhat away from Astor Piazzolla to explore more modern facets of his musical legacy.
By reaching out to well-known Tango Nuevo composers such as Rodolfo Mederos and Tomás Gubitsch, while also commissioning young Belgian composers such as pianist and accordionist Jimmy Bonesso, the ensemble set out to broaden its repertoire. Always committed to preserving the harmonic and polyphonic richness of the style, the members of Iguazú Quintet rework Tango Nuevo pieces through their own approach to arrangement and orchestration, while continuing to leave room for improvisation. This process gave birth to the album Passages.
Today, with their new album Que le temps nous porte, Iguazú Quintet presents a repertoire that is more innovative and personal than ever, bringing together works dedicated to the ensemble by Jimmy Bonesso, Samuel Strouk, Tomás Gubitsch, and Pablo Murgier with compositions by the quintet’s own members, creating music that is rich, intimate, and vibrant.
Marion Borgel
French violinist based in Belgium since 2010, Marion Borgel trained at the Conservatoire de Grenoble, the Schola Cantorum in Paris with Jean Lenert, then at the Royal Conservatories of Brussels in Shirly Laub’s class, and of Mons for pedagogy.
An active chamber musician on both violin and viola, she performs with various ensembles in France, Switzerland, and Belgium. Her interest in new music repertoire and sonic exploration has led her to become involved in contemporary creation with Ensemble Fractales, with whom she has performed at numerous international festivals. She enjoys sharing her musical experience through teaching violin at the Académie de Watermael-Boitsfort and by taking part in educational and social projects.
Pauline Oreins
Pauline Oreins is a Belgian accordionist, pianist, and composer. She trained at the Haute École de Musique de Genève, the Royal Conservatory of Mons, and IMEP in Namur, earning master’s degrees in piano, chromatic accordion, and chamber music.
Passionate about the blending of art forms, chamber music, and the artistic and human encounters they create, she regularly collaborates with other disciplines such as theatre, cinema, dance, and circus. Beyond the classical repertoire, she explores contemporary and Baroque music, as well as traditional and popular music, through projects such as Anmoor, Iguazú Quintet, and the trio Les Heures Bleues.
Wynand Mawet
Classical guitarist and improviser Wynand Mawet develops a musical approach at the crossroads of chamber music, jazz, and South American popular music. His playing draws both on the rigour of the classical guitar and on the colours of tango, Brazilian music, and swing.
A founding member of Iguazú Quintet, he has been exploring since 2016 an original repertoire combining personal compositions, contemporary creations, and Latin American influences. He is also active in the Brussels Guitar Duo, dedicated to the repertoire for two guitars, ranging from original works to transcriptions and new creations. As co-founder of Murmures ASBL, he is involved in the production and promotion of a wide range of artistic projects in French-speaking Belgium.
Hakim Talbi
Belgian pianist, double bassist, and composer from a family of musicians, Hakim Talbi entered the Royal Conservatory of Mons in 2014, in Rosella Clini’s class. Trained in classical piano, he also developed a self-taught practice of jazz, broadening his musical language to include popular music, world music, and vocal accompaniment.
A versatile musician, he performs with numerous Belgian ensembles, including Il Cello and Duo Zéphyr. A choir accompanist since 2014, he has collaborated extensively with singers. He began playing double bass in 2015 and is also interested in contemporary creation, notably through works from Claude Ledoux’s class and compositions for immersive spaces.
Nicolas Sanna
Belgian guitarist, bassist, and keyboardist born in Baudour in 1994, Nicolas Sanna discovered music at an early age. He began classical guitar at the age of seven, then went on to study piano, jazz, and bass. In 2012, he entered the Royal Conservatory of Mons in the class of Brazilian guitarist Odair Assad.
An eclectic multi-instrumentalist, he rejects artistic boundaries and remains open to all forms of contemporary music. His versatility allows him to move easily between radically different styles, from chamber music to popular cultures. Active in pop, rock, ska, and interdisciplinary projects, he now brings his sense of groove and curiosity to a wide range of ensembles, including Iguazú Quintet, Skapilsburger, Leones, Bloocat, and Xylo-tempo.
