A number of years ago Teldec released a superb disc titled Symphonic Tangos that contained orchestral versions of pieces by various composers, among them Astor Piazzolla. It featured a few of the same works included on this voice/piano recital, namely Adios nonino, Uno, and the irresistibly romantic Oblivion. The comparison, from a purely atmospheric standpoint, is striking. On the Teldec disc, which had the advantage of authoritative contributions by El Quinteto Buenos Aires and conductor Ettore Stratta, the music literally drips with dark, luscious sensuality; here, we simply get mezzo-soprano Sibylle Wolf’s flagrantly overwrought if sincerely exuberant theatrics. The whole mystique, the seething sexuality of the tango is nowhere to be found–only Wolf’s opera-style emoting and PG-rated version of heavy breathing. And every song–yes, there are many tangos with words attached–sounds exactly the same. With piano accompaniment (all these selections were arranged by pianist Stefan Irmer), the routine quickly becomes tiring, both to the ear and to our patience. What’s the point of a tango concert that has no kick, no sultriness, no allure? As usual, MDG’s sound is first rate; but I’d be willing to sacrifice some of that for some honest-to-goodness musical/stylistic authenticity. The liner notes tell us that these performers have substantial experience interpreting this music–but for sheer musical integrity, Ute Lemper, Sade, or even Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66 have more going for them than this duo, however well-intentioned. If you love tango music–or want to discover its charms, find that Teldec disc.
