From the Facebook group, Notas de Oro

post by Sean Ericson ·

Juan D'Arienzo - El Rey de Compas (b. Dec 14, 1900, d. Jan 14, 1976)

By 1938, the orchestra of Juan D'Arienzo had reached the peak of its popularity. D'Arienzo was only 35 years old at the time. His records were selling well, and his orchestra was frequently featured on the radio. But audiences were becoming increasingly enthusiastic about his pianist, Rodolfo Biagi.

At a concert later that year, after a performance of the vals “Lágrimas y Sonrisas”, the crowd clapped insistently—until Biagi finally stood up and bowed. As the story goes, D’Arienzo walked over, leaned in, and whispered: “I’m the only star in this orchestra. You’re fired.”

With Biagi's departure, D'Arienzo brought on another exceptional pianist: Juan Polito.

But this golden era of talent didn't last either…

In early 1940, Juan Polito parted ways with D’Arienzo—and took the entire orchestra with him, including the singer Echagüe.

It seemed as if the D’Arienzo orchestra was finished. But in response, D’Arienzo quickly persuaded bandoneonist Héctor Varela to help him assemble a new orchestra. Among their recruits were the young pianist Fulvio Salamanca, only 18 years old at the time, and the well-known violinist Cayetano Puglisi (not related to Osvaldo Pugliese). After several rehearsals, they also brought in a new singer: Héctor Mauré.

Mauré’s voice was smooth and nuanced—not as gritty and streetwise as Echagüe’s. At first, it wasn’t clear whether he would suit D’Arienzo’s driving, beat-heavy style. But they found common ground: the orchestra kept its rhythmic force but slowed the tempo slightly and adopted more refined, melodically complex arrangements to match Mauré’s style.

The result was a resounding success: Between 1940 and 1944, they recorded 50 songs, many of which remain beloved by dancers to this day—including “Nunca Más”, “El Olivo”, “Tierrita” and many more.
The tango “Dime mi amor” was recorded in 1941 for the film “Yo quiero ser bataclana” (“I Want to Be a Showgirl”), with lyrics written by the film’s director Manuel Romero. The film starred the famous actress and comedienne Niní Marshall—and Juan D'Arienzo also appears in the movie, playing (of course…) himself.

"Dime mi Amor“ from the year 1941:

• Spotify
• YouTube

Lyrics
Al compás dormilón de nuestro tango, con mi brazo ciñiendo tu cintura, murmurando mil frases de cariño, entreviendo mil cielos de ventura. Yo quisiera saber si hay en tu pecho, todavía, esperanza para mí, si la ausencia y la distancia no han borrado el amor que yo en tus ojos entreví.
Dime, mi amor, dime, mi amor, si aún me quieres; si la ausencia no mató tu querer, si hoy, como ayer, puedo creer… Dime, mi amor, dime, mi amor, si aún prefieres mi corazón que hoy para ti pongo en mi triste canción.
Yo quisiera saber si hay en tu pecho, todavía, esperanza para mí, si la ausencia y la distancia no han borrado el amor que yo en tus ojos entreví.
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To the sleepy rhythm of our tango, with my arm wrapped around your waist, I whisper a thousand words of affection, and catch a glimpse of a thousand skies of joy. I long to know if there’s still, in your heart, a hope that lives on for me—if absence and distance haven’t erased the love I once glimpsed in your eyes.
Tell me, my love, tell me, my love, do you still care for me? Has absence not killed your desire? Can I still believe, as I did yesterday? Tell me, my love, tell me, my love, do you still prefer the heart I offer you now in my sorrowful song?
I long to know if there’s still, in your heart, a hope that lives on for me—if absence and distance haven’t erased the love
I once glimpsed in your eyes.