1/4 Maria de Buenos Aires This episode offers an overview of Astor Piazzolla's only opera, Maria de Buenos Aires. Host Cally Banham shares highlights from the surreal plot, and takes a closer look at the instrumental interludes, and the opera's most enduring aria, "Yo soy Maria" - "I am Maria."
1/11 Biagi Off-Beat Host Cally Banham features musician Rodolfo Biagi, who developed a distinctive technique during the Golden Era. From behind the piano he directed his tango orchestra to place some accents outside the beat, and to leave some beats out completely! His clever style left the dancers placing steps on silent beats sometimes. Biagi enjoyed musically challenging them in this way.
1/18 Symphonic Piazzolla This episode features Sinfonia Buenos Aires, one of the last pieces Astor Piazzolla wrote before his teacher Nadia Boulanger convinced him to break away from the traditional classical style of composing, and develop his own voice with the Tango. Host Cally Banham examines this large scale symphonic triptych, placed alongside sound rich Golden Era tangos from Carlos Di Sarli and Florindo Sassone.
1/25 TWC Welcomes Gisèle Ben-Dor Cally interviews conductor Gisèle Ben-Dor and highlights her recordings.
