In Strangers' Arms

Not all tango singers please porteños. Expectations are high in the land of tango. There is no mercy.  We are as picky with tango singers as Italians are with opera singers.

Sandra Luna’s intimate show happens at café concert El Vesubio in mythological Corrientes Avenue. Sandra has it all. She delivers the heart of tango with perfect voice, stage presence, beauty, warmth and drama. An excellent guitarist, Raul Luzzi, accompanies Luna on the small stage in the all painted in black basement of this narrow, simple venue. Luna converses with the audience between songs as most singers do in this city. Conversation creates a cozy cocoon.

Sandra opens the show with Eladia Blazquez’s contemporary song: “El corazon mirando al Sur.” A poignant rendition of “Milonga Triste” follows. Her repertoire includes “Martirio,” “Nunca tuvo Novio,” and “La Trampera”. Lazzi gives us an instrumental of “Adios nonina” by Piazzolla; Luna tells us this piece has never been recorded.

I enjoyed her mixed selections of classic and contemporary tangos, particularly “Recalada” with music and poetry by contemporary artists: composers Nestor Basurto and Raul Luzzi and poet Alejandro Szwarcman.

Tags: Song