Milonga in Calle Corrientes

[Janis Kenyon <jantango @FEEDBACK.NET.AR>]

The Buenos Aires Tango Festival had a milonga in Corrientes on Saturday from
7:30pm until 2:00am.  Eight orchestras and ensembles performed on two
different stages in the street.  People began arriving at 7:00 to get a
seat.  There was continuous music and dancing in the street.  When an
orchestra finished on one stage, recorded music was played; then another
group began performing on the other stage.

I stood in front of the stage to hear Los Reyes del Tango.  It was thrilling
to hear the recordings I know of Juan D'Arienzo performed live.  The
orchestra has four bandoneons, three violins, bass, and piano.  A man of 82
years couldn't keep him arms still;  he seemed to be standing in for Juan
D'Arienzo.

During one of the tangos, a butterfly came upon the scene and gracefully
landed on the forehead of one of the bandoneonistas.  It rested quietly
while he played.  The other bandoneonistas noticed what had occurred, but no
one missed a beat.  Photographers had minutes to snap shots of this
phenomenon.  At the end, the musician simply brushed away the resting
butterfly from his head.  The crowded demanded an encore.  What an
incredible performance!

This festival was even better than the one that took place in December 1999.
I hope they do this kind of program again next summer.  Hundreds of free
classes took place from January 12 through March 4 to get more people to
dance tango.  The concerts and milongas this week were incredible.  There
was so much
going on, it was difficult deciding where to go.  And everything was free.

Pichi