The album “Viento del note” of Germany
based Sexteto Cristal is in line with
the sound of ‘golden age’ tangos. They follow the approved ‘orquesta tipica’
ingredients with two violins (played by Maja Hunziker and Rupert Dintinger),
two bandoneons (Christian Gerber and Hendrik Lessmann), a piano (Pablo
Woizinski) and a double bass (Rodolfo Paccapelo), and they invited Guillermo
Rozenthuler as a singer who performs with contemplative charm and avoids all
pathetic phrasings. The 13 songs (7 Tangos, 3 Valses, 2 Milongas and 1
Foxtrott) have all what is needed to please the milongueros: dramatic
phrasings, emotional melody lines and accentuated rhythms.
Thank God, they have opted for a
repertoire that is not yet completely drained, i.e., we hear old treasures such
as “Viento norte” (1929) by Alfredo Eusebio Gobbi & Juan Carlos Suncho, “El
adios” by Maruja Pacheco Huergoa & Virgilio San Clemente or the beautiful
“Caricias” by Juan Martí & Alfredo Bigeschi (which I like most) or the
lively “Flor de Montserrat” by Juan Santini & Vicente Planells del Campo. With these songs they clearly focus on the
dancers and recommend themselves as an attractive life ensemble. I see them playing
in a grand café´s music hall or in an old music pavilion under a starry
sky… old fashioned, indeed, but
wonderful.
ArgEnTango started
as a project of renowned Romanian cellist Razvan Suma, Argentine singer Analia
Selis and former Narcotango pianist
Mariano Castro. Later on, bandoneonist Omar Massa from Argentina and classical violinist
Rafael Butaru from Romania joined the project to play authentic tango, particularly
from composer Astor Piazzolla.
This album was recorded live at the Radio
Romanian Radio Concert Hall. Of course, we all know most of the Piazzolla songs
quite well (i.e., Milonga del Angel, Milonga de la anunciacion, Vuelvo al sur,
Balada para un loca), and one may ask why a further recording is needed. The best reason is that the
exquisite musicians play the Piazzolla compositions (plus one by Francisco de Caro) extremely
sensitive and dynamically. Even the ‘evergreens’ unfold new facets and attract and again. At his time Astor Piazzolla had problems with the tango
dancers, and they will surely have their problems with several of his compositions
for concert hall today, too. Nevertheless, those who like music which speaks
directly to the heart and soul are exactly right here.
Mariano
Castro has written perfect arrangements for this wonderful ensemble. His
variable piano play, Omar Massa´s emotional bandoneon, Rafael Butaru´s elegant
violin, Razvan Suma´s great tone, and Analia Selis´ beautiful interpretations
are what makes the difference come.
