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Angel D’Agostino
Pianist and director. May 25, 1900
- January 16, 1991
Admired and revered by successive generations since the early 1940s. Angel
Domingo Emilio D'Agostino, produced his first arrangement at the age of 11 old
with Juan D’Arienzo; a friend and neighbour.
He met Angel Vargas in 1932 and they were formally established as a team in 1940
with an orchestra under the Victor label and subsequent performances on Radio El
Mundo.
The D’Agostino/Vargas team then recorded with RCA Records. All the Master Copies
of their work were destroyed over 50 years ago which means that we have been
left with inferior quality representations of their work.
The magic and good taste of his orchestra can be ascribed to its simplicity and
use of simple language but it was
Angel Vargas's
style of singing that drew people in by enabling them to readily understand the
lyrics. The orchestra’s success was enhanced by the refined repertoire selected
by D’Agostino. More clear and nostalgic, it was very different to its
contemporaries.
A true Buenos Aires character, tango was not D'Agostino’s only world. A skilled
gambler and stubborn bachelor, he was close friends with
Enrique Cadícamo.
Unlike other orchestra directors he was also a very good Tango dancer which is
reflected in the clear rhythms and phrasing and easiness for dancing.
He recorded 93 numbers using the vocals of
Angel Vargas’s, 19
with Tino García and 8 in duet with Miguel Cané.
On
January 16, 1991D’Agostino passed away. He died as he lived, alone by choice,
suffused in the memories of so many women and friends.
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