Oscar Edelstein Brings His Sonic Voyages to Aberdeen Arts Centre
An experimental "un-classic" performance blends piano, poetry, and projection in a night of discovery.
Bitácoras is a concert worth your attention this month if you enjoy surprising performances. On Saturday 19 April, Aberdeen Arts Centre hosts Argentinian composer and pianist Oscar Edelstein. His show, a very different approach to classical music, blends emotion, experimentation, and a deep sense of place.
Across Latin America, Edelstein is regarded as one of the leading voices in experimental music, known for weaving together classical composition, free jazz, spoken word, and sonic texture. It’s not about showing off, though. For Edelstein, honesty matters: “More important than any generous comparison,” he’s said, “it’s about originality and being decisively Latin American—with all the paradox, passion and politics that implies.”
A Concert Inspired by Exploration
Bitácoras, named after the ship’s logbooks traditionally used to document long sea journeys, draws on that spirit of discovery. The performance combines Edelstein’s self-described “unclassic” piano with tape, spoken text, and projected visuals. He’s joined by Welsh multimedia artist Deborah Claire Procter, who contributes vocals and video, adding another layer of reflection and contrast.
This isn’t your usual recital. Instead, Bitácoras offers something more layered and exploratory—a shifting landscape of image, language and sound. Edelstein’s piano doesn’t settle into a single style; it shifts between fragments, textures and tones, always driven by feeling and intent.
The performance also honours the physical craft of making and remembering. Edelstein describes the concert as “a homage to the wise art of hands encrypted in notations, drawings, and poetry.” These ancient, tangible forms, he says, offer something more enduring than the transience of digital memory.
A Rare Appearance in the North East
This is a rare chance to catch Edelstein live in Aberdeen. It’s an opportunity to experience a deeply personal project in a fantastic setting.
For anyone curious about how music, visuals, and language can come together to tell deeper stories, Bitácoras promises an inventive and intimate evening. The performance takes place at Aberdeen Arts Centre on Saturday 19 April at 7:30pm. Tickets are on sale now.
