Customer Reviews

Barnarda & Marcos Fink - Canciones Argentinas (Piazzolla, Guastavino & Others)

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It baffles me that this mesmerizing disk seems to have escaped attention -- it hasn't yet been reviewed here or in Gramophone. But make no mistake, it is one of the most satisfying CDs of the year. The material, musicianship, and presentation are faultless and would suffice to distinguish this recording. But what makes the CD especially noteworthy is the rarety of the repertory. The Argentinean art song, or cancion de camara, will be wholly unknown to most listeners.

As represented by this disk, the Argentinean art song is a genre as evocative and distinctive as the great American songbook or the French cabaret tradition. It shares with other Spanish song forms a strong rhythmic element, arising from popular roots; but it has a flavor all its own. An air of mystery and melancholy infuses many of the songs. The liner notes describe Argentinean art song as born of the effort to establish a unique and refined national voice. From the evidence of this carefully chosen program, the goal was achieved with glorious success. We have here a range of sentiments and styles to rival the French melodie.

The program strikes an ideal balance -- presenting a variety of composers, with enough songs by each to give a sense of his musical personality. There was nary a song on the disk that didn't win me over with its originality, its piquant lyrics, and its stylish performance. The very first song, Encantamiento, radiantly depicts the transfiguration of motherhood. The six songs by Buchardo are perfect miniatures, using a few brush strokes to capture the scene while investing it with mystery. The three songs by Astor Piazzolla are the most urbane, but decidedly derivative: the first is a schmaltzy anthem; the other two are tangos that give a new twist on sinister "Mack the Knife" types. The five songs by Guastavino that end the recital have a Brahmsian flavor that never falls into mimicry.

The solo performances are interspersed with beautiful duets -- these are often settings of verses suited for a single narrator but sung by two voices, which offers an interesting amplification of sentiment.

On an earlier recording of Spanish repertory by Bernarda Fink, I found her lacking in native flair. I have no such complaint here: the performances are assertive but nuanced, full of atmosphere and rhythmic grace. Bernarda Fink's brother, baritone-bass Marcos Fink, shares this recital. His fine voice is vigorous but sensitive; there is no question of the listener biding time between Bernarda's solos. The commitment, affection, and talent of the musical team, accompanist included, will make this recording one of my perennial favorites. It certainly ranks among my five favorite disks devoted to Spanish art song.

Harmonia mundi is much to be commended for supporting this project. The material is out-of-the-way, but not because it deserves to be! Add this classic to your collection and make a wonderful discovery!

It's worth noting that this recording is one of three disks nominated for vocal recording of the year by BBC Music Magazine.

When you hear the songs of Carlos Guastavino, you'll ask yourself why they are so rarely heard on classical radio stations in North America. They have that quality of inevitability that makes a song work the first time you hear it. They also have a melodic grace that makes you want to hear them again.

My thanks to WNYC in New York for introducing me to them!

Even if you aren't especially interested in Latin music, do yourself a favor and check this out. Argentina is a special world of its own in Latin America, with strong European ties, and the Finks (brother and sister) are native Argentinians, despite their Slovenian name. They approach the music of their countrymen with affection and passion, and they have made a very special recording of some incredibly beautiful music. Guastavino's music is outstanding (there is another fine recording by Desirée Halac that includes a number of the songs on this album), but I've found the entire program to be haunting, soothing, and irresistible. I return to it often, and I would welcome a volume 2 from these fine artists.

Very classic in both counts lyrics and music, I was expecting something more contemporaneous.