The Uruguayan Héctor Ulises Passarella is one of the world’s most sought-after bandoneon virtuosos; he has also made a name for himself as a composer and arranger for this instrument. Born in Florida, Uruguay, in 1955, young Héctor began playing in a bandoneon orchestra at the age of 13 and soon founded his first trio. Later he won several international competitions, including the Concorso Ottorino Respighi, which earned him a one-year scholarship to live in Italy. Ever since, Passarella has not only performed in all the great cities of Latin America, but also in Munich, London, Prague, Rome, Istanbul and Tel Aviv. He became known to a broader film audience when he performed Luis Bacalov’s film score for Il postino (1994) as well as through movies such as Milonga and The Love Letter (also composed by Luis Bacalov). Together with Plácido Domingo, Passarella recorded Bacalov’s Misa Tango, which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2001. As an arranger, Passarella has won renown for his adaptations of Bach and Vivaldi works, among others.