Ever heard of a Twinkie? Among other less-appetizing items, it’s a cream filled sponge cake snack thing, perfect for lunchboxes, that always seems moist and tasty–indeed, it never dries out–and sports such powers of resistance to spoilage (thanks to healthy quantities of preservatives) that “What’s the shelf life of a Twinkie?” became one of our more popular schoolyard jokes, at least when I was a kid. Well, the latest joke is: “What’s the shelf life of a major-label full-priced new release?” Believe me, it’s a lot less than that of a Twinkie.
First released in 1992 under the general title “Tangazo!” (after Piazzola’s piece), this exceptional recital was the first in what promised to be a series of Argo recordings featuring Michael Tilson Thomas and his own New World Symphony. That project fizzled out when Argo did, as did this talented orchestra’s subsequent deal with RCA. Still, collectors can take heart that these fantastic performances, including reference editions of the Chávez Sinfonia India, the Ginastera Estancia Suite, Revueltas’ Sensamayá, and the Piazzola, are now available at budget price. The sonics were superb in 1992 and still are. Ten Twinkies and a Devil Dog chaser to all concerned. [7/17/2001]
