Inspired by a general love of the
tango, and more specifically the
tango of
Astor Piazzolla, on the part of
Yo-Yo Ma, the
Soul of the Tango album is a masterful work of the nuevo
tango, played by
Ma's cello and many of
Piazzolla's former associates.
Piazzolla's old guitarists
Sergio and
Odair Assad even showed up to work on a pair of tracks arranged by
Sergio: the
Tango Suite (consisting of
Andante and
Allegro). The sheer beauty of one of
Piazzolla's
tangos is generally enough to warrant the purchase of an album containing them. An album such as this one, where all of the songs -- save one:
Tango Remembrances, where
Ma plays along with outtakes from
Piazzolla's recording of
The Rough Dancer and the Cyclical Night album are compositions by
Piazzolla -- is even better. Add to this the masterful playing of
Ma, and the surprising facility in which the cello fits into the
tango, and you've got what could become a classic album, if only it weren't on the
classical label from
Sony. The album begins with
Libertango, a composition from
Piazzolla's first album that became the theme song for the movie
The Tango Lesson. Following is the pair of tracks in the
Tango Suite from
Sergio Assad. Then comes
Sur: Regreso al Amor, a softer work, though with some definite virtuosity displayed.
Le Grand Tango is an 11-minute tour de force in the
tango, and
Fugata is a
tango written under the guidelines of a
classical fugue. The next work is the aforementioned
Tango Remembrances, which is a particularly nice work, probably due to the appearance of
Piazzolla's own playing.
Mumuki is a more complicated composition, and
"Tres Minutos con la Realidad" is a choppier, peppier work.
Milonga del Angel is a seemingly sentimental work that shows off
Piazzolla's ability to express the emotions of a song perfectly and purely. To finish the album,
Ma presents
Cafe 1930, a rather slow-paced work, but again, as in
Milonga del Angel, Ma expresses emotion very fully in its nostalgia. Overall, the album is a stunning work of art, and even those who may not have heard of
Piazzolla could easily be lured to his music via this single album. ~ Adam Greenberg
![Chant: Music for Paradise [Extra-CD: Gregorian Chant for Advent & Christmas]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0028947669838_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg "Chant: Music for Paradise [Extra-CD: Gregorian Chant for Advent & Christmas]")
