QuinTango & Robert Duvall | Whitehouse Tango Concert | 1999

Описание: Special thanks to Irwin Singer for putting this together.

On 11 January 1999, Robert Duvall and QuinTango took part in two White House events—first a rehearsal, then a performance at the state dinner for Argentine President Carlos Menem—condensed here in this video.

Robert Duvall's love for the tango was a deep and transformative passion that began in 1985 when he saw the Broadway show 'Tango Argentino', describing it as "love at first sight". He pursued this fascination with the same drive he brought to acting, practicing for hours and even requesting dance floors in his hotel rooms. His dedication led him to Buenos Aires, where he frequented milongas (tango clubs) and immersed himself in the local culture.

In 1996, this passion led him to Luciana Pedraza, an Argentine woman who would become his wife. The dance became the fabric of their life together, with the couple holding daily tango sessions in a converted barn on their Virginia farm.

Duvall channeled this devotion into his 2002 film Assassination Tango, which he wrote, directed, and starred in. Critics recognized it as a genuine "labor of love" that treated tango with respect as "a living language with rules, etiquette, and a heartbeat." For Duvall, tango was more than a hobby—it was a discipline that connected him to Argentina, brought him lasting love, and remained an integral part of his daily life until his recent death at 95 in 2026.

Violin | Joan Singer and Rachel Schenker
Cello | Irma Field Cripe
Bass | Libby Blatt
Piano | Bruce Steeg