Main content

In the slums of rural Argentina, cultures blend and the tango is born. Donald continues a weeklong whirl around the world of ballroom dancing.

Donald Macleod takes a whirl around the world through the music of ballroom dancing, as we count down to 91Èȱ¬ Radio 3’s Day of Dance on Friday 8th November. With the help of Hilary French, author of Ballroom: A People’s History of Dancing, Donald waltzes across Viennese ballrooms, foxtrots through New York clubs, tries the tango in the arrabales of Buenos Aires, sambas on the streets of Salvador and finally cha-cha-chas his way to Havana.

Today, we travel to the arrabales of rural Argentina, a cultural melting pot where African rhythms are combined with Spanish melodies and Italian harmonies, and the tango is born.

Por Una Cabeza
Carlos Gardel, composer & vocals

Mi Noche Triste
Carlos Gardel, composer & vocals

Volver
Carlos Gardel, composer & vocals

Adios Muchachos
Carlos Gardel, composer & vocals

Whatever Lola Wants (Lola Gets)
Richard Adler & Jerry Ross, composers
Victor Silvester and His Ballroom Orchestra

The Golden Tango
Victor Silvester, composer
Victor Silvester and His Ballroom Orchestra

Hear My Song Violetta
Rudolf Luckesch, composer
Victor Silvester and His Ballroom Orchestra

Malena
Conjunto Berretin, composers & performers

Tango to Evora Bandoneon
Conjunto Berretin, composers & performers

Tango
Goran Bregovic, composer
Athens Symphony Orchestra

Prologue-Tango Apasionada
Astor Piazzolla, composer
Astor Piazzolla and his orchestra

Libertango
Astor Piazzolla, composer
Alison Balsom, trumpet
Göteborg Symfoniker, conducted by Edward Gardner

Oblivion
Astor Piazzolla, composer
Eduardo Hubert, piano
Martha Argerich, piano

Balada para un Loco
Astor Piazzolla, composer
Astor Piazzolla and his Orchestra
Roberto Goyenche, vocals

Produced by Alice McKee for 91Èȱ¬ Audio Wales & West

To listen on most smart speakers, just say: “Ask 91Èȱ¬ Sounds to play Composer of the Week."

13 days left to listen

59 minutes

Last on

Wed 6 Nov 2024 16:00

Music Played

  • Carlos Gardel

    Por Una Cabeza

    Orchestra: Carlos Gardel and his Orchestra.
    • SONY : 14389-1959.
    • SONY.
    • 1.
  • Carlos Gardel

    Mi Noche Triste

    Orchestra: Carlos Gardel and his Orchestra.
    • ZAN.
  • Carlos Gardel

    Volver

    Singer: Carlos Gardel. Orchestra: Carlos Gardel and his Orchestra.
    • EMI : 8235952.
    • EMI.
    • 9.
  • Vedani-Sanders

    Adios Muchachos

    Orchestra: Carlos Gardel and his Orchestra.
    • EMI.
  • Richard Adler

    Whatever Lola Wants

    Composer: Jerry Ross. Orchestra: Victor Sylvester And His Ballroom Orchestra.
    • PARLOPHONE.
  • Victor Sylvester

    The Golden Tango

    Orchestra: Victor Sylvester And His Ballroom Orchestra.
    • VINTAGE MASTERS.
  • Luckessch/Klose/Pepper

    Hear my Song, Violetta

    Orchestra: Victor Sylvester And His Ballroom Orchestra.
    • MASTER CLASSICS.
  • Demare / Manzi

    Malena

    Performer: Conjunto Berretin.
    • Berretin Records.
  • Loreena McKennitt

    Tango to Evora

    Performer: Conjunto Berretin.
    • Tangamente: Tangos a la parilla para bailar.
    • Berretin Records.
    • 12.
  • Goran Bregović

    Tango

    Orchestra: Athens Symphony Orchestra.
    • FM RECORDS.
  • Astor Piazzolla

    Prologue - Tango Apasionado

    Performer: Astor Piazzolla. Performer: Andy González. Performer: Paquito D’Rivera. Performer: Rodolfo Alchourron. Performer: Pablo Zinger. Performer: Fernando Suárez Paz.
    • NONESUCH : 4011687101924.
    • NONESUCH.
    • 1.
  • Astor Piazzolla

    Libertango

    Performer: Alison Balsom. Orchestra: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • EMI 3532552.
    • EMI.
    • 2.
  • Astor Piazzolla

    Oblivion

    Performer: Eduardo Hubert. Performer: Martha Argerich.
    • WARNER CLASSICS : 9029583189.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.
    • 2.
  • Astor Piazzolla

    Balada para un loco

    Singer: Roberto Goyeneche. Ensemble: Orquesta Astor Piazzolla. Ensemble: Orquesta Astor Piazzolla. Director: Astor Piazzolla. Director: Astor Piazzolla. Director: Astor Piazzolla.
    • RCA : G-010000282958J.
    • RCA.
    • 6.

Broadcast

  • Wed 6 Nov 2024 16:00

Vaughan Williams Today

Vaughan Williams Today

Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years

Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem

What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?

A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...

The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.

Composer Help Page

Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.