Customer Reviews

En Vivo En Argentina

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To hear her voice, with its soul and energy, one can understand the excitement of the crowd. You can see why they are so glad to have her back where she belongs - on the stage - after a long absence in political exile. An artist of the highest order, she can mesmerize you like an Edith Piaf or a Cesaria Evora, but like all great artists, she belongs in a class of her own.

Her voice is a warm, smooth alto that is as effective in a soft lull as it is in full throttle. Sosa possesses a truly an amazing set of pipes. In this recording, she is ON, and the audience knows it, and, boy, can they show their appreciation!

Buy this CD and own not only a beautiful recording of great songs but a beautiful recording of a great moment in history, too!

P.S.: Check out fellow Argentian Atahualpa Yupanqui and also Violetta Para, who wrote 'Gracias a la Vida.'

One of the greatest voices in the world, Mercedes Sosa was compared to Edith Piaf and Billie Holiday, and justly so.
During four decades, Mercedes Sosa has been the voice of her people in argentina. she sang about the poverty and was the clear voice against her goverment, when people were kidnaped and killed for speaking their mind. Mercedes Sosa exhaled from argentina at the end of the 70's and came back at 82 for three historical live concerts. The goverment warned Sosa not to perform, but she wouldn't listen. Thank god.
Performing live all her great songs, back at home, she shines and brings you to tears in superb songs like "GRACIAS A LA VIDA", "MARIA VA" and "SOLO LE PIDO A DIOS".
This album is the best Mercedes Sosa compilation and is highly recommended.

Now that Mercedes is gone I cherised this album as the pinnacle of her legacy.

1982: Argentina's most brutal military dictatorship was ebbing out. Mercedes, as many socially conscientious Argentines, had been sent into exile. This CD is her coming back to her Motherland, recorded live for the thousands of eager souls waiting for a song of hope. Originally released as a double LP, this masterpiece has the very rare ability to reflect the mood of Mercedes and her audience. Some of the songs included are among the most beautiful Latin American folk tunes by songwriters like Violeta Parra, Charly García, Ariel Ramírez, Silvio Rodríguez, Pablo Milanés, César Isella. There is a moving rendition of Violeta's "Gracias a la vida," which in Mercedes' voice becomes a powerful message of love for life. Argentine traditional folk music is represented best by "Al Jardín de la República," an homage to Mercedes' cradle: the Northwestern province of Tucumán. This CD is an icon in the struggle of the Latin American people, that is synthesized in one of its best songs: "Canción con Todos," the strongest call for Latin American unity. Of all CD's by Mercedes, I would pick this one as her best ever.

1982: Argentina's most brutal military dictatorship was ebbing out. Mercedes had been sent into exile. This is her coming back recorded live for the thousands of eager souls waiting for a song of hope. This CD is an icon in the struggle of the Latin American people, that is synthesized in one of its best songs: "Canción con Todos."

It is probably impossible to find new words to praise Mercedes Sosa's voice and place in Argentina's popular music. Through the better part of the last forty years, Mercedes has been the tender and fierce voice of everyone who has been suppressed and quieted by injustice, in Latin America. An exquisite tone and profound interpretation of each song she's chosen to sing has made her a goddess in Latin America and Europe.
Here's a true artist and a committed citizen, singing songs that make no concessions to their beauty nor their message.
This CD is probably her best in many levels, her choices here, cover every song she's made a classic, and the fact this concert marked her return to Buenos Aires -after her exile during the years of Argentina's "infamous decade"- proves that courage must exist closely to creativity to be timeless.
Here you'll find some of the best work from Latin America: Como La Cigarra (Maria Elena Walsh), Solo Le Pido A Dios (Leon Gieco), Sueño Con Serpientes (Milton Nascimento), and many more great renditions of the best composers from the South of America.
William Carlos Williams said that "there are no news in poetry / yet people die, miserably, / from the lack of what is found there." Well, here is some of that poetry, which I know nourished me and so many others, during some of the worst moments of our beleaguered country.
Five starts because I could not give it ten!

Mercedes Sosa (1935) is one of the greatest Argentinean folk singer!
She jumped to public attention when she was only fifteen years old winning a singer's radio contest. From that point on she continues growing up as a notorious figure in the folk singers medium.
Due to difficult political situation at Argentina she was forced into exile by military Junta.
She made a triumphant and defiant return early in 1982 with a series of live concerts at Opera Theater. From those recitals this outstanding CD was recorded!

The songs of this CD reflect not only Argentinean music but a wide Latin American repertoire, collected by Mercedes in her forced errand.
"Sueño con Serpientes" authored by Cuban Silvio Rodriguez presents the struggle between the Poet & the Serpent in a dream like language. Mercedes' voice reaches very high notes singing this song.
"Maria, Maria" authored by Brazilians Milton Nascimento & Fernando Brant, with unmistakable afro rhythm is interpreted brilliantly by Sosa.
Chilean composer Violeta Parra contributes with two top notch compositions: "Gracias a la Vida" sang fervently by all the audience and "Volver a los 17" are delivered with Mercedes giving way to all her sentiment.
"La Arenosa" whose text is authored by Manuel J. Castilla and music composed by Cuchi Leguizamon, two well known folklorists, is a composition more in line with Mercedes' traditional collection.
Finally Mercedes Sosa incursion in Argentinean Rock with Charly Garcia's "Cuando Ya me Empiece a Quedar Solo" and Argentinean Tango with Cobian & Cadicamo's "Los Mareados".
Two big hits to close the CD "Polleritas", traditional motif, sang with unquenchable fire and Isella's "Cancion con Todos" driving the audience absolutely mad!

You shouldn't miss this gem by all means!
Reviewed by Max Yofre.

This is possibly the best record Sosa has made in the last 20 years. Nearly every Latin-American anthem is represented in some of the finest versiones ever recorded. Check out "Alfonsina y el mar", for instance. Highly enjoyable.

My Latin American Perspectives professor brought this CD in when we were studing about Argentina and once I heard it I had to get it! Truely fabulous music, I've bought another CD of hers since, but this one is my favorite. Knowing the history of Argentina and the Dirty War where 30,000 people were "disapeared" makes this CD that much more powerful. A definite buy for anyone who loves beautiful music!

Have you ever seen the Andes in person? I rode the train from Q'osqo (Cuzco) to the foot of Machu Picchu overwhelmed by their sudden height and strength and width and power.

If you cannot see them, hear them here. Mercedes Sosa sings.

Gracias a la Vida.
Solo le pido a Dios.
Maria va.

Never again feel resentment nor offense, so trivial in the bright shade of these mighty maternal mountains. This mountain mother music suffered more and more than any man can endure and still sings with strength. Come here to rest and to rest once more, weary, weeping, find strength. This is Mercedes Sosa, carajo!

Recorded in February 1982, upon her triumphant return to Buenos Aires after decades of hundreds of thousands of her own companions disappeared by the right wing military dictatorship, she here sings with full voice. Hear her now. This is a fine introduction to her music. Hear her. Here and now. And never find fear again, but a strong loving merciful compassion deeper still than the Mother Earth, higher and wider than the Andes. Hear her now, and all else sounds so very small, and weak, and miserly. Hear her here, now, please. Listen to the lyrics. Gracias a la vida. Solo le pido a Dios. Worth learning Spainsh to hear with understanding, but not necessary. Hear her, now.

I played this music on a classical guitar long ago, almost another life it seems, to accomapny a singer in Gracias a Dios. This here is music to live for. Do so. Hear her now. Feel your own bones grow strong once more, like the mountains. Hear her now.

This is one of my all-time favorites in my music collection. Too bad you can't sample the music here, but no matter, just buy it. But it now!! This rendition of Gracias de la Vida, one of her signature songs, was recorded live, shortly after the Pinochet regime fell. It is a particularly moving and heartfelt rendition sung to her fellow Argentinians who had suffered so much under Pinochet. Towards the end of the song, the audience erupts in a spontaneous expression of joy. It's worth buying this CD for that experience alone.