Search - Luis Enrique Bacalov, Astor Piazzolla, Gisèle Ben-Dor :: The Soul of Tango

Legitimate Tango in classical music

Open minded music lover | 10/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hearing a world premiere of a serious work for large orchestra ( apparently the only one by Piazzolla) is exhilarating, and elicits thoughts of the "what if..." kind, as much as it provides aural delight, particularly in the lovely - and interestingly developed- second movement and the pure excitement of the third. In my opinion, the "what if..." question relates to Piazzolla's development as a composer. He started out wanting to be a serious composer away from Tango yet upon the advice of Nadia Boulanger - the famous Parisian teacher- he desisted and concentrated on re-creating and reanimating Tango - his Tango Nuevo- in a manner which occasionally incorporated the orchestra and with an approach not far from Gershwin's or Duke Ellington's. The use of the bandoneon as a solo instrument in a "concertante" capacity ( meaning in a symbiotic relationship with the orchestra as opposed to the more typical classical soloist , who is pitted "against" the orchestra in a dialogue format) is very interesting in itself.



The work by Bacalov for three soloists is as unusual as it is simply beautiful, and a true work for our times. It shows the two main facets of the Tango, it's better known exciting dance rhythms as well as the evocative sadness of many of its themes.



The performances are tremendous. The Santa Barbara Symphony is first rate, and conductor Gisele Ben-Dor's superb direction elicits their inspired and exciting playing- particularly in the woodwinds. In my view, the bandoneon playing of Juanjo Mosalini is simply extraordinary, singling him out as a foremost artist of this achingly soulful instrument. Virginia Tola's beautiful voice and authentic Argentine style are simply perfect for the part. Finely, Luis Bacalov - who composed the Academy winner score for "Il Postino" - has produced a striking and original work imbued with Tango to enrich the classical repertoire and for a large orchestra.



I wholeheartedly recommend this recording for any classical music lover as well as Tango lovers and for those who, like me, find that folk and popular music have inspired the greatest composers, from Haydn to Stravinsky.

"

It Takes Two (Or Four?) To Tango

Erik North | San Gabriel, CA USA | 02/06/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The great South American dance form known as the Tango has provided a huge amount of inspiration to many composers, both North American and Latin American, since the early 20th century. And on this recording by the Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra and their music director Gisele Ben-Dor, there's plenty of proof why.



THE SOUL OF TANGO combines four Tango-inspired works by two great South American composers, Luis Enrique Bacalov and Astor Piazzolla, and gives the listener a great deal of musical insight into this great form. Bacalov's two works are the Triple Concerto for bandoneon (a South American form of the accordion), soprano, and piano (with the composer himself serving as pianist here), and the theme he composed to English director Michael Radford's 1994 film IL POSTINO (THE POSTMAN), while Piazzolla's contributions are his 1953 composition "Tres Movimientos Sinfonicos, Buenos Aires", and the one-movement "Oblivion", in which the bandoneon plays an important part. Both the Triple Concerto and "Buenos Aires" are making their word premiere recordings here, while "Il Postino" is making its third orchestral appearance since it won the 1995 Oscar for Best Original Score, and "Oblivion" gets its best performance here. Ms. Ben-Dor and the Santa Barbara Symphony are top-notch, proving themselves to be one example of the many fine regional orchestras of Southern California, as are bandoneon soloist Juan Jose Mosalini, and (in the Triple Concerto) soprano Virginia Tola.



For anyone interested in learning more about that mysterious dance form known as the Tango, this recording, made at Santa Barbara's Music Academy of the West in February 2004, is as good a place to start as any."

Unsung Heroes of Tango

Michael E. Fine | Lake Ariel, PA United States | 10/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Luis Bacalov, known primarily for his hauntingly evocative score for 'Il Postino' and his popular 'Misa Tango' has created a work of surpassing beauty with his Triple Concerto scored for the unusual combination of piano - played here by the composer - soprano, and bandoneon. It is a magical, memorable work that reveals both the virtuoso and achingly nostalgic side of Tango. His scoring for the orchestra is perfectly realized by Gisele Ben-Dor, a conductor who deserves to be much better known, and the Santa Barbara Symphony. In Piazolla's never before recorded Symphonic Movements, she unleashes a torrent of musical passion and power. Listen to its final movement for truly exhilirating musical experience. The bandoneon soloist, Juanjo Mosalini Jr, astonishes with his facility and musicianship throughout the recording and is another unsung musical star. Whether playing lyrically in Piazolla's Oblivion or in the daunting Bacalov cadenza movement, Mosalini is a one man tour de force. Soprano Virginia Tola, a Domingo discovery, sings the lovely text, composed by Bacalov with a voice of genuine beauty.



I produced this recording in three sessions over the course of one day in Santa Barbara. The town was still in the grip of its own love affair with Tango, caused by Ben-Dor's week long Tango Festival. It was a remarkable day and the result is a remarkable recording."