Mario Battistella

Mario Battistella was born on 5 November 1893 and died on 10 October 1968. ^{[5] [4]}

He first worked in theatre. In November 1922 he debuted as a theatre author with the revue Do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-si, written with Francisco Bohigas and staged at the Teatro Variedades, where he met Carlos Gardel. ^[1] He wrote his first tango, Pinta brava, in 1927, with music by Charlo. ^[1]

From 1929 he lived abroad, travelling to Italy and then to Paris, where he worked as a translator for Paramount. ^[1] During this period he wrote song lyrics with Alfredo Le Pera for Gardel's Paramount films and set words to music by Gardel and Razzano. ^[1] His later output included Cuartito azul (1939), written with Mariano Mores, and Bronca (1963), written with Edmundo Rivero. ^{[2] [3]}

History

### Theatre beginnings

On 21 November 1922 Battistella made his debut as a theatre author with the revue Do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-si, co-written with Francisco Bohigas. ^[1] The revue was presented at the Teatro Variedades, and it was there that he met Carlos Gardel. ^[1]

### First tango

In 1927 Battistella wrote his first tango, Pinta brava, with music by Charlo. ^[1]

### Italy and Paris

In 1929 he travelled to Italy and then to Paris. ^[1] In Paris he worked as a translator for Paramount. ^[1]

### Work with Gardel

In 1932 Battistella and Alfredo Le Pera wrote song lyrics for Gardel's Paramount films Melodía de arrabal, Espérame and La casa es seria. ^[1] In 1933 he wrote words for Gardel and Razzano's Mi alhaja, which was recorded as Medallita de la suerte. ^[1] Gardel also recorded Al pie de la Santa Cruz that year. ^[1]

### Later work and death

In 1939 Battistella wrote Cuartito azul with Mariano Mores. ^[2] In 1963 he wrote Bronca with Edmundo Rivero; the tango was later recorded by Osvaldo Pugliese with the singer Alfredo Belusi. ^[3] Battistella died on 10 October 1968. ^[4]

Repertoire

Works linked to Battistella in the sources include: ^{[1] [2] [3]}

- Do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-si (revue, 1922), with Francisco Bohigas ^[1] - Pinta brava (1927), music by Charlo ^[1] - Song lyrics for the films Melodía de arrabal, Espérame and La casa es seria (1932), with Alfredo Le Pera ^[1] - Medallita de la suerte (1933), his words to Gardel and Razzano's Mi alhaja ^[1] - Al pie de la Santa Cruz, recorded by Gardel ^[1] - Cuartito azul (1939), with Mariano Mores ^[2] - Bronca (1963), with Edmundo Rivero ^[3]

Collaborators

Battistella worked with Francisco Bohigas in theatre, with the composer Charlo on his first tango, and with Alfredo Le Pera on film song lyrics for Carlos Gardel. ^[1] He also set words to music by Gardel and Razzano. ^[1] Later partners included Mariano Mores on Cuartito azul and Edmundo Rivero on Bronca. ^{[2] [3]} Bronca was recorded by Osvaldo Pugliese's orchestra with Alfredo Belusi. ^[3]

Recordings

Carlos Gardel recorded Medallita de la suerte, the version of Mi alhaja with Battistella's words, and also Al pie de la Santa Cruz. ^[1] Osvaldo Pugliese recorded Bronca with Alfredo Belusi. ^[3]