Search - Astor Piazzolla :: 40 Obras Fundamentales

Yet Another Masterpiece

Kurt Harding | Boerne TX | 07/31/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Just when I begin to think that I must already have every recording ever issued by Astor Piazzolla, along comes a new CD to prove me wrong. Most of the songs on 40 Obras Fundamentales I have heard before, several in many different arrangements. Despite that, I found that I had never heard most of the arrangements offered here. And there are also some songs here I never knew before buying this magnificent compilation.

In addition to Piazzolla's work, the CD features Piazzolla and his orchestra interpreting a number of guardia vieja classics, some of them in a most imaginative manner. In Piazzolla's early days, new takes on popular tangos were a standard part of the Piazzolla repertoire. Most of that period that features him with his orquesta tipica (the 1940s) has been available on CD for some time. 40 Obras Fundamentales features Piazzolla's groups of the 1960s and early 1970s offering new interpretations of many of the same classics he performed in the 40s.

Among the best renditions of his own compositions are to be heard on Decarisimo, a gorgeous Milonga del Angel, Preparense, and Imperial. Among the best of the classics are Los Mareados, La Cumparsita, A Media Luz, Uno, an unusual interpretation of Quejas de Bandoneon, Malena, and Griseta.

Most US fans of Piazzolla have probably not heard the arrangements offered here. When I bought and first listened to this CD, which was produced in Argentina, I felt as if I had discovered yet another Piazzolla masterpiece. Since much of the Piazzolla canon is obscure and his work seems to appear suddenly on the market only to disappear again shortly thereafter, I strongly urge all of his fans to buy this CD while it is still available. It will be a tremendous addition to your music library."