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Orchestra

Rodolfo Biagi

The Rodolfo Biagi orchestra was the orchestra led by the pianist Rodolfo Biagi [3][1]. Biagi left Juan D'Arienzo's orchestra in 1938 and debuted his own orchestra at the Marabú cabaret in September of that year, although sources differ on the exact date [1][2][3][4]. The orchestra recorded for Odeon from 1938, with singers including Teófilo Ibáñez, Andrés Falgás, Jorge Ortiz, Alberto Lago, Alberto Amor and Carlos Saavedra [5][6][10][12][14][16].

Rodolfo Biagi recordings indexed 1927–1966 · 3 applied periods in gold

The Rodolfo Biagi orchestra was led by Rodolfo Biagi [3]. Before forming it, Biagi was the pianist in Juan D'Arienzo's orchestra from 1935 to 1938 [1][2]. His own orchestra debuted at the Marabú cabaret in September 1938 [1][2][3][4]. One source gives the date as 1 September 1938, and others give 16 September 1938 [4][1][2][3].

The orchestra recorded for the Odeon label [5][10]. Todo Tango attributes Odeon's success in the market at that time to the pairing of Biagi with the singer Jorge Ortiz [11]. It was a lead act on Radio El Mundo's Glostora Tango Club in the early 1950s [1]. Todo Tango also describes it as the first orchestra on Argentine television [1].

History

Biagi was born on 14 March 1906, according to the dossier's sole source for this date [17]. Aged thirteen, in 1919, he began playing piano for silent films at a neighbourhood cinema without his parents knowing [1]. On 1 April 1930 he recorded for Odeon with Carlos Gardel as part of Gardel's accompanying group [1].

1927: 2 · danced 0 times1938: 8 · danced 879 times1939: 12 · danced 937 times1940: 20 · danced 408 times1941: 18 · danced 368 times1942: 13 · danced 129 times1943: 14 · danced 37 times1944: 10 · danced 42 times1945: 16 · danced 149 times1946: 18 · danced 153 times1947: 2 · danced 0 times1948: 2 · danced 146 times1950: 4 · danced 41 times1951: 4 · danced 190 times1952: 2 · danced 102 times1953: 4 · danced 21 times1954: 4 · danced 81 times1955: 2 · danced 24 times1956: 4 · danced 30 times1957: 4 · danced 107 times1958: 4 · danced 165 times1959: 4 · danced 57 times1960: 2 · danced 1 times1961: 4 · danced 16 times1963: 2 · danced 65 times1964: 2 · danced 3 times1965: 4 · danced 7 times1966: 4 · danced 24 times
1927’40’50’601966
records madedanced on film, by the record’s year· our catalogue

1927: 2, 0; 1938: 8, 879; 1939: 12, 937; 1940: 20, 408; 1941: 18, 368; 1942: 13, 129; 1943: 14, 37; 1944: 10, 42; 1945: 16, 149; 1946: 18, 153; 1947: 2, 0; 1948: 2, 146; 1950: 4, 41; 1951: 4, 190; 1952: 2, 102; 1953: 4, 21; 1954: 4, 81; 1955: 2, 24; 1956: 4, 30; 1957: 4, 107; 1958: 4, 165; 1959: 4, 57; 1960: 2, 1; 1961: 4, 16; 1963: 2, 65; 1964: 2, 3; 1965: 4, 7; 1966: 4, 24

  1. 53% of the dancing to Rodolfo Biagi’s records is to those made in 1938–1940.

    How we know

    The shortest run of recording years that holds at least half the dances: 2,224 of 4,182. Dances count filmed Occasions on TangoTube, once each however many channels filmed them, under the year the record was made.

    See these records →

  2. Teófilo Ibáñez sang 8 of its 189 records (4%), and they hold 25% of its dancing, 1938–1939.

    How we know

    1,067 of 4,182 dances. A partner is named when they hold at least a fifth of the dancing and half again their share of the records.

    See these records →
Recordings per year, and the filmed Dances to them · 189 recordings, 1927–1966 · read Nov 2, 2026

In 1935 Biagi joined Juan D'Arienzo's orchestra at the Chantecler cabaret, where he replaced the pianist Lidio Fasoli [1]. His first recording with D'Arienzo was "Orillas de plata", dated 31 December 1935 [2]. He also played with D'Arienzo on LR1 Radio El Mundo [2]. His last recording with D'Arienzo was "Champagne tango" on 22 June 1938, after 71 sides together [2].

Biagi led his own orchestra from 1938 [2]. Its debut took place at the Marabú cabaret [1][3]. Sources differ on the date of this debut [4][1][2][3]. Todo Tango and Wikipedia (es) give 16 September 1938 [1][2][3]. A blog discography of the orchestra gives 1 September 1938 [4]. The tango.info calendar lists the orchestra with Biagi as leader on 19 August 1938, before either debut date [5].

In 1942 the orchestra toured Chile, and Todo Tango describes the tour as a great success [1]. In the early 1950s it was a lead act on Radio El Mundo's Glostora Tango Club [1]. Todo Tango also states that it was the first orchestra on Argentine television [1].

Biagi gave his last performance on 2 August 1969, at the Hurlingham Club [1]. He died suddenly in Buenos Aires on 24 September 1969 [1].

Singers

Teófilo Ibáñez was the orchestra's singer from 1938 [4][3]. The tango.info calendar lists him with the orchestra on 19 August, 17 October, 15 November and 2 December 1938 [5]. Sources differ on when his time with the orchestra ended [4][6]. A blog discography gives a span from 19 August 1938 to 27 April 1939 [4]. Todo Tango's biography of Andrés Falgás places Ibáñez's departure in July 1939 [6].

First to last recording together · source: TangoCloud catalogue · tap a bar for the takes · Every singer and orchestra

19381966
  1. Jorge Ortiz1940–1945 · 37
  2. Alberto Amor1943–1947 · 30
  3. Hugo Duval1950–1966 · 35
  4. Carlos Acuña1943–1944 · 12
  5. Andrés Falgás1939–1940 · 11
  6. Teófilo Ibáñez1938–1939 · 8
  7. Carlos Saavedra1946–1948 · 7
  8. Alberto Lago1941–1942 · 5
  9. Carlos Almagro1963–1966 · 5
  10. Carlos Heredia1950–1953 · 4
Singers by year, first to last recording together · 10 singers · read Nov 2, 2026

Andrés Falgás joined in July 1939 and sang with the orchestra until April 1940 [6]. Jorge Ortiz joined in 1940 [10][11]. He was still singing with the orchestra on 10 September 1942 [13]. Todo Tango states that the success of the Biagi–Ortiz pairing helped the Odeon label establish itself in the market [11].

Alberto Lago sang with the orchestra on 3 December 1941 and 22 May 1942 [12][13]. Alberto Amor is recorded with the orchestra on 18 January 1946 and 23 May 1946 [14][15]. Carlos Saavedra is recorded with the orchestra on 22 July 1948 [16].

Recordings

The orchestra recorded for Odeon [5][10]. Sources differ on the date of an October 1938 Odeon recording [5][4]. tango.info gives 17 October 1938 and the blog discography gives 16 October 1938 [5][4]. Another Odeon recording is dated 2 December 1938 [5].

Odeon recording dates in the dossier for 1939–1940 are as follows [7][8][9]:

  • 13 July 1939 [7][8]
  • 18 September 1939 and 22 September 1939 [7]
  • 26 October 1939 [7]
  • 27 March 1940, 19 June 1940, 28 June 1940 and 4 October 1940 [9]

On 18 January 1946 Biagi led the orchestra in a session that included "Aroma de amor", with Alberto Amor as singer [14]. The Todo Tango page on "Camino del Tucumán" records Alberto Amor with the orchestra on 23 May 1946 [15].

The labels it recorded for

By year, from the 187 of 189 recordings whose label the catalogue names.

  1. Odeon1938–1956 · 155 sides
  2. Columbia1956–1961 · 20 sides
  3. Music Hall1963–1966 · 12 sides

Most danced

12 of 189 recordings

From TangoTube dances

  1. Viejo portónRodolfo BiagiTeófilo Ibáñez
  2. Dichas que vivíRodolfo BiagiAndrés Falgás
  3. Campo afueraRodolfo BiagiTeófilo Ibáñez
  4. Por la huellaRodolfo BiagiCarlos Saavedra
  5. AdoraciónRodolfo BiagiHugo Duval, Carlos Heredia
  6. Lejos de tiRodolfo BiagiTeófilo Ibáñez
  7. El YaguarónRodolfo Biagi
  8. El último adiósRodolfo BiagiAndrés Falgás
  9. Todo es amorRodolfo BiagiHugo Duval
  10. El recodoRodolfo Biagi
  11. Lágrimas y sonrisasRodolfo Biagi
  12. Loca de amorRodolfo BiagiTeófilo Ibáñez

Instrumental or sung

Rodolfo Biagi: an instrumental Recording has 25.1 filmed Dances on average, a sung one 22.2.

  • Sung
  • Instrumental
  • Not known
  1. 1935–193914 of 20 sung
  2. 1940–194461 of 75 sung
  3. 1945–194935 of 38 sung
  4. 1950–195413 of 18 sung
  5. 1955–195917 of 18 sung
  6. 1960–19647 of 10 sung

Recordings by the year they were made. An empty singer credit stays not known, never instrumental. Counted: 84,665 of 189,572 filmed Dances, those whose song names one Recording with a year; the others are left out.

Explore Rodolfo Biagi's recordings by yearAll recordings of Rodolfo Biagi

Periods

Explore19271966Explore Rodolfo Biagi's known recording years, 1927–1966, by period.Explore periods

Where each orchestra is danced

Dances to this orchestra by city, counting only filmed Dances whose place we know: 2,748 of 4,649. An orchestra shows here with 100 or more placed Dances.

Buenos AiresNew YorkMoscowIstanbulParisBerlinRomeSeoulHong KongMontréal
top 20 cities for Rodolfo Biagi
CityAllBefore 20152015–192020 on
Buenos Aires4281379277
New York112562416
Moscow105563012
Istanbul74181811
Paris66162213
Berlin5452914
Rome4516162
London401578
Athens379187
Seoul376225
St Petersburg351883
Kraków338912
Catania2911310
Hong Kong284913
Florence26564
Amsterdam251051
Belgrade2410100
Turin23836
Warsaw23893
Bari21565

A Dance with no known date counts in All only, so the spans may add up to less.

Filmed dancing to Rodolfo Biagi

Dancers filmed to Rodolfo Biagi, the most filmed first: 1,878 in all. The number counts filmed performances: it is what the cameras caught, not who dances it most.

  1. Maja Petrovićfilmed 127 times
  2. Mariano Chicho Frúmbolifilmed 116 times
  3. Marko Miljevicfilmed 116 times
  4. Juana Sepulvedafilmed 104 times
  5. Sebastian Jimenezfilmed 96 times
  6. Javier Rodríguezfilmed 67 times
  7. Jonathan Saavedrafilmed 67 times
  8. Clarisa Aragónfilmed 65 times
  9. Noelia Hurtadofilmed 59 times
  10. Carlitos Espinozafilmed 51 times
  11. Maria Inés Bogadofilmed 51 times
  12. Facundo Piñerofilmed 48 times

Connections

ExploreJorge OrtizAlberto AmorRodolfo BiagiFollow the cited people around Rodolfo Biagi, year by year.Explore connections

Often danced together

Our data: two of this orchestra's recordings danced in the same filmed Performance on TangoTube.

Filmed sets

One Couple dancing three or four songs at one Occasion, every song known. What was danced on film, not what a DJ played.

3 of 378 complete sets on film

  1. Fatima Vitale and Javier Rodríguez

    Planetango, 2015 · In the order danced: the video titles number them

    1. 1Una cartaAníbal Troilo, 1941
    2. 2De floreoOsvaldo Pugliese, 1950
    3. 3Por la huellaRodolfo Biagi, 1948
    4. 4Mañana iré tempranoMiguel Caló, 1943
    Watch it on TangoTube

  2. Noelia Hurtado and Pablo Rodriguez

    Belgrade Tango Encuentro, 2011 · In the order danced: the video titles number them

    1. 1El marneLos Astros del Tango, 1958
    2. 2Solamente ellaLucio Demare, 1944
    3. 3Pobre negritoRodolfo Biagi, 1945
    4. 4RemembranzaRicardo Malerba, 1943
    Watch it on TangoTube

  3. Anibal Lautaro and Valeria Maside

    Antwerpen Tango Festival, 2016 · In the order danced: the video titles number them

    1. 1Yuyo verdeOsvaldo Pugliese, 1945
    2. 2Dichas que vivíRodolfo Biagi, 1939
    3. 3Don Agustín BardiOsvaldo Pugliese, 1961
    4. 4EmancipaciónOsvaldo Pugliese, 1955
    Watch it on TangoTube

Shares songs with

Of all the songs two orchestras recorded between them, the share both recorded. Counted only for orchestras with at least 20 songs in our catalogue and 5 in common.

Compare with…Who played with Rodolfo Biagi, year by year

In their words

  • Biagi's 1942 instrumentals, like Bélgica, still keep the choppy, sharply syncopated beat of his earlier style, even as orchestras generally slow down and gain more space; that fuller change in Biagi's own sound comes more in 1943.

    What was said, in our words

    Michael Lavocah · Tango 1942

  • Biagi, who started his own band in 1938 after leaving D'Arienzo (fired, or mutually), moves the surprising offbeat from his piano to the whole band; its beat is the shortest, sharpest ever recorded in tango.

    What was said, in our words

    Michael Lavocah · Tango 1939

  • Biagi took the surprise element he had developed as D'Arienzo's pianist and applied it to his own orchestra as a whole, rather than featuring himself as a soloist.

    What was said, in our words

    Dag Stenvoll · Tango 1946

  • Los tangos de D'Arienzo, con Rodolfo Biagi al piano, son todos bailables.

    D'Arienzo's tangos, with Rodolfo Biagi on piano, are all danceable.Tangopedia translation

    Félix Picherna · FELIX PICHERNA Tengo una pregunta para vos (por Pepa Palazón) with ENGLISH subtitles.

    open at 26:52

Read more

References

How Tangopedia works

  1. 1.Rodolfo Biagi · todotango.com
  2. 2.Rodolfo Biagi · es.wikipedia.org
  3. 3.Biografía de Rodolfo Biagi por Jorge Palacio (Faruk) - Todotango.com · todotango.com
  4. 4.Rodolfo Biagi su obra completa en el disco - Volumen 1 - 1938 - 1939 · tangoradioymashistorias.blogspot.com
  5. 5.Calendar - Argentine Tango - tango.info · tango.info
  6. 6.Biography of Andrés Falgás by Néstor Pinsón - Todotango.com · todotango.com
  7. 7.Andrés Falgás - Biography, history - Todotango.com · todotango.com
  8. 8.tango.info, recordings of 13 July 1939 · tango.info
  9. 9.Calendar - Argentine Tango - tango.info · tango.info
  10. 10.Biography of Jorge Ortiz by Abel Palermo - Todotango.com · todotango.com
  11. 11.Jorge Ortiz - Semblanza por Abel Palermo · todotango.com“El sello Odeon lograba imponerse en el mercado gracias al éxito producido por el binomio Biagi-Ortiz.”
  12. 12.tango.info, recordings of 3 December 1941 · tango.info
  13. 13.Calendar - Argentine Tango - tango.info · tango.info
  14. 14.Aroma de amor · todotango.com
  15. 15.Camino del Tucumán · todotango.com
  16. 16.Calendar - Argentine Tango - tango.info · tango.info
  17. 17.Tangopedia staff · tangopedia.app

Browse · People

Tours

  1. 1942Tours Chile with great success.†

    Part of Rodolfo Biagi's 1942 tour of Chile

    Places named: Chile

Data: recordings, facts and sources

Also: its leader, Rodolfo Biagi

Leader1

Led by Rodolfo Biagi1938–1959

Notes30

Aged thirteen, starts playing piano for silent films at a neighbourhood cinema without his parents knowing.1919

Records with Carlos Gardel for Odeon as part of his accompanying group.Apr 1, 1930

Joins Juan D'Arienzo's orchestra at the Chantecler cabaret, replacing pianist Lidio Fasoli.1935

First recording with D'Arienzo, Orillas de plata; with him he also plays on LR1 Radio El Mundo.Dec 31, 1935

Last recording with D'Arienzo, Champagne tango, after 71 sides together.Jun 22, 1938

Debuts his own orchestra at the Marabú cabaret.Sep 16, 1938

Tours Chile with great success.1942

In the early 1950s is a lead act on Radio El Mundo's Glostora Tango Club and the first orchestra on Argentine television.1950

Gives his last performance, at the Hurlingham Club.Aug 2, 1969

Dies suddenly in Buenos Aires.Sep 24, 1969

Biagi's 1942 instrumentals, like Bélgica, still keep the choppy, sharply syncopated beat of his earlier style, even as orchestras generally slow down and gain more space; that fuller change in Biagi's own sound comes more in 1943.

Biagi took the surprise element he had developed as D'Arienzo's pianist and applied it to his own orchestra as a whole, rather than featuring himself as a soloist.

Biagi favoured comic, abruptly rhythmic endings, both on 'Sueño de juventud' and on 'Lisón' from the main 1944 show.

Biagi, who started his own band in 1938 after leaving D'Arienzo (fired, or mutually), moves the surprising offbeat from his piano to the whole band; its beat is the shortest, sharpest ever recorded in tango.

Biagi recorded only six or seven milongas in his whole career, and in Campo afuera the lyric by Homero Manzi is sad, as Manzi's milongas usually are.

Biagi's orchestra is one of extremes: very slow legato bandoneón and very choppy backbeat, with strong contrast but not much colour in between.

Biagi's milongas put the accent on the beat before the one, making an upward feeling; listen to Campo afuera for the idea carried all the way through.

In the Biagi orchestra a single bandoneón sometimes plays very quietly with a lot of tremolo (shaking the instrument), adding a spooky atmosphere under the vocal.

Biagi split from D'Arienzo in 1938, a break Lavocah thinks Biagi expected, and immediately started his own orchestra.

Biagi takes the surprise he had as D'Arienzo's pianist and applies it to the whole orchestra; 'surprise' is the orchestra in one word.

Known as «Manos brujas»

Manos brujas

Release “Lagrimas y sonrisas” (1993), AR1993source

Release “Reliquias: Sus éxitos con Jorge Ortiz” (1998) on EMI–Odeon S.A.I.C. 4 95365 2, AR1998source

Release “Sentir el tango: Malena” (1998) on Altaya T.A. 052, AR1998source

Release “Reliquias: Sus éxitos con Alberto Amor” (1999) on EMI–Odeon S.A.I.C. 7243 499968 2 3, AR1999source

Release “Reliquias: Sus éxitos con Jorge Ortiz, vol. 2” (1999) on EMI–Odeon S.A.I.C. 724349996724, AR1999source

Release “Reliquias: Sus éxitos con Andrés Falgás y Teófilo Ibáñez” (1999) on EMI–Odeon S.A.I.C. 7243 499966 2 5, AR1999source

Release “Pura clase” (1999) on Maestros del Tango Argentino BMT 021, ES1999source

Release “Caricias y Los No. 1” (November 9, 1999) on Emily Records 821593Nov 9, 1999source

Joined3

Andrés Falgás — joined Rodolfo BiagiJul 1939–Apr 1940

Jorge Ortiz — joined Rodolfo Biagi1940

Teófilo Ibáñez — joined Rodolfo Biagi1938

Sang with12

Andrés Falgás — sang with Rodolfo BiagiJul 1939–Apr 1940

Jorge Ortiz — sang with Rodolfo Biagi1940, Sep 10, 1942, Jan 2, 1945

Teófilo Ibáñez — sang with Rodolfo Biagi1938–1939

Alberto Lago — sang with Rodolfo BiagiDec 3, 1941, Dec 3, 1941–May 22, 1942, May 22, 1942

Alberto Amor — sang with Rodolfo Biagi1943–1947

Carlos Saavedra — sang with Rodolfo BiagiMay 23, 1946–Jul 22, 1948, 1946–1950, Jul 22, 1948

Carlos Acuña — sang with Rodolfo Biagi1942–1944, Aug 11, 1944

Carlos Heredia — sang with Rodolfo Biagi1950–1953

Hugo Duval — sang with Rodolfo Biagi1950–1961

Carlos Almagro — sang with Rodolfo Biagi1962

Juan Alessio — sang with Rodolfo Biagi1940–1945

Jorge Garré — sang with Rodolfo Biagi1959–1960

Left2

Teófilo Ibáñez — left Rodolfo BiagiJul 1939

Andrés Falgás — left Rodolfo BiagiApr 1940

Recordings18

Dichas que viví · Rodolfo Biagi · 1939 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiJul 13, 1939

El Yaguarón · Rodolfo Biagi · 1940 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiJun 19, 1940

Por un beso de amor · Rodolfo Biagi · 1940 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiOct 4, 1940

Son cosas del bandoneón · Rodolfo Biagi · 1939 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiSep 22, 1939

Dejame amarte aunque sea un dia · Rodolfo Biagi · 1939 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiSep 22, 1939

Cielo · Rodolfo Biagi · 1939 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiSep 18, 1939

El último adiós · Rodolfo Biagi · 1940 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiMar 27, 1940

Griseta · Rodolfo Biagi · 1939 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiOct 26, 1939

Queja indiana · Rodolfo Biagi · 1939 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiOct 26, 1939

Cantando se van las penas · Rodolfo Biagi · 1940 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiJun 28, 1940

Pura clase · Rodolfo Biagi · 1939 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiJul 13, 1939

Todo te nombra · Rodolfo Biagi · 1940 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiJun 19, 1940

Viejo portón · Rodolfo Biagi · 1938 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiOct 16, 1938, Oct 17, 1938

Lejos de ti · Rodolfo Biagi · 1938 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiDec 2, 1938

No me digas que no · Rodolfo Biagi · 1954 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiDec 29, 1954

Te burlas tristeza · Rodolfo Biagi · 1960 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiJul 28, 1960

Amor mio · Rodolfo Biagi · 1958 — recorded by Rodolfo BiagiNov 12, 1958

Recorded in 71 piezas con D'ArienzoDec 31, 1935–Jun 22, 1938

Labels2

Released on Odeon1940

Released on Columbia1956–1961

Performed at1

Performed at MarabúSep 1, 1938, Sep 16, 1938

In other catalogues1

tango.info · RodolBiagi

Arranged for1

Oscar de la Fuente — arranged for Rodolfo Biagi

Played in3

Alfredo Attadia — played in Rodolfo Biagi

Ricardo Pedevilla — played in Rodolfo Biagi

Juan Carlos Caviello — played in Rodolfo Biagi

Open from1

Open from 1938Sep 16, 1938

Open until1

Open until 1969Aug 2, 1969

Listen

  1. El carretónRodolfo Biagivals
  2. Cruz diabloRodolfo Biagitango
  3. El IncendioRodolfo BiagiinstrumentaltangoOdeon
  4. GólgotaRodolfo BiagiTeófilo IbáñeztangoOdeon
  5. Viejo portónRodolfo BiagiTeófilo IbáñezvalsOdeon
  6. Unión CívicaRodolfo BiagiinstrumentaltangoOdeon
  7. El treceRodolfo BiagitangoOdeon
  8. Loca de amorRodolfo BiagiTeófilo IbáñezvalsOdeon
  9. Una penaRodolfo BiagiTeófilo IbáñeztangoOdeon
  10. Lejos de tiRodolfo BiagiTeófilo IbáñezvalsOdeon
  11. Alma de bohemioRodolfo BiagiTeófilo IbáñeztangoOdeon
  12. La malevaRodolfo BiagiinstrumentaltangoOdeon

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