A live, 2-disc recording of the 1968 operita “Maria de Buenos Aires.” Read the notes for plot and performers. There are some good, at times even great performances here, but the sound quality is a distraction. Perhaps because it’s live there are variation in levels such as when a too-distant-from-the-mic-piano plays in the background. As you’d expect from Piazzolla, the music is rooted in the tango. As you’d expect from an operetta, lots of tracks that wander all over the place in terms of tempo & mood. Plus spoken word. Watch for applause. Check out especially these:
Disc 1:
2. Husky fem vox. Mid/uptempo tango w/some dramatic bits.
3. Male voices, spoken word, midt/downtempo.
4. Maria sings a mid/uptempo song to the city.
6. Bright & busy & varied instrumental tango.
7. Passionate fem. Vox in a downtempo monologue.
Review continued inside…

Disc 2:
2. Slow & beautiful, then driving & passionate, then slow…
3. Rich fem vox, lots of emotion, mostly slow.
4. Flute, chorus of men, bouncy then slow & reflective
a definite operatic “scene.”
6. A bright, modern tango w/great jazzy accents.
8. Long (11.30 min), mostly slow/mid. An emotional epic.