Customer Reviews

The Tango Lesson: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1997 Film)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My wife loved the movie hence the purchase of the soundtrack. Every other cut is an actual tango but the other stuff is some kind of new wave John Tesh-like dreck.

I enjoyed the movie, "The Tango Lesson". (If you have not seen it, rush to the video store NOW!!!) Somehow, the soundtrack seems to surpass the movie. Perhaps it's music sans dialogue. The tango collection presented here is NOT the lush classical arrangements currently popular and popularized. They are quirky, many include voice (the idea of a voiceless Tango is relatively new), some incorporate the "dance" sounds of the movie, some are classics - all are outstanding works of art. Additionally, the CD notes are outstanding - almost a novel. This is a real winner!!

If you love tango music, you will love the classic pieces here, but be prepared to have the interspersed New Age musical tracks jar you out of your tango mood. About every other track is insipid modern background music of no distinctive interest. Keep your finger on the skip button. Enjoy the tango numbers of Hugo Diaz, Anibal Troilo, Juan D'Arienzo, Osvaldo Pugliese, and the nuevo tango composer and performer, the famous Astor Piazzolla....The liner notes are excellent....I have not seen the movie so I am judging the soundtrack on its own merits as I see them, independent of the film itself.

Sally Potter's choice of tangos for the movie was subjective; these are just some of her favorites. They are all memorable. The soundtrack includes all the music from the movie and in chronological order. You envision a mini version of the movie as you listen to it. If you haven't seen the movie don't worry. The soundtrack stands alone. Buy it and enjoy.

The Tango Lesson Soundtrack Album is a perfectly balanced blend of very different music genres: on the one hand we have a selection of passionate tango pieces, on the other Ms. Potter's elegantly minimalist compositions... I won't bother describing the first, as the tango classics are familiar enough to all of us, but let me spend a few words on the latter. I think of these tracks as unfolding: they are spacious and ethereal; the sounds seem to form an indistinct melody as they come from different sources on different planes, and yet by doing so they outline a precise dimension. These compositions, I believe, are the musical transposition of Sally at work, of her concentrating to find inspiration, or to understand: it's like information beaming from different directions, comes together at last and makes sense as it is conceptualized. The Album reaches its climax at track number 10, when the beautiful seagull-like cry of Doyna (airport scene) precipitates on you and makes you feel as if your heart is about to implode. The final surprise of Sally Potter singing "I Am You" leaves me satisfied and feeling full every time.

I enjoyed the movie, "The Tango Lesson". (If you have not seen it, rush to the video store NOW.) The soundtrack seems to surpass the movie though. Perhaps it's the music sans dialogue. The tangos presented here are NOT the lush classical arrange- ments currently popular. They are quirky, many include voice (the idea of a voiceless Tango is relatively new), some incorporate the "dance" sounds of the movie, some are classics - all are outstanding works of art. Additionally, the CD notes are outstanding - almost a novel. This is a real winner!!

I bought the soundtrack long before I watched the movie. I bought it because there is Astor Piazzolla's music in it. The stunning music captured me and I was desperately eager to see the movie. I was so happy when I found that "The Tango Lesson" was showing in a cinema here. The movie didn't let me down and I enjoyed every minute in watching it! Until now, I still think buying the CD was one of the best things I've ever done :)

If you are a lover of dancing and haven't seen the film, rent it today. The soundtrack captures both the essence of the film and Argentinian tango. Not all tracks are tango pieces, some are background music. Also included are several fine sung tango pieces. All in all, it is a well crafted soundtrack that both evokes the feeling film's and stands well on its own merit.

As a side note, I brought the CD to work recently and several co-workers fell in love with it. So much so that they went out and bought their own copies.

The mixture of new sounds with the old tango music awakes very strange but delightful and colorful emotions. I recommend buying both the CD with the sound tracks and the motion picture. It is absolutely enticing, watching the protagonists perform tango.

Love this CD. Thank you so much for making it available. I play it often and 'pretend' I'm tango-ing:) A lovely reminder of younger days....