Ernesto Ponzio

Ernesto Ponzio was born on 10 July 1885, a date given by two separate sources ^[2][4]. He is credited as the composer of the tango "Don Juan" ^[5][6]. Two other compositions, "Ataniche" and "Culpas ajenas", are also credited to him ^[5].

Around 1900 he played at Mamita's dance house at Lavalle 2177, which one source names as the place where "Don Juan" was first heard ^[1]. Sources differ on the date of that piece: two give it as composed in 1898 ^[3][6], while the account of its first performance at Mamita's is dated to 1900 ^[1].

Ponzio's career included a trio with Eduardo Arolas and Leopoldo Thompson, formed around 1910 ^[2]. He also had a long association with Juan Carlos Bazán, which one source dates to 1903 ^[7]. In 1924 he killed a man in Rosario and was sentenced to a long prison term ^[2]. He was released by a pardon in 1928 ^[2]. He then performed with Bazán in the Ponzio-Bazán orchestra and appeared in a film, and he died of a heart aneurysm on 21 October 1934 ^[1][2].

History

Ponzio was born on 10 July 1885 ^[2][4]. Around 1900 he was playing at Mamita's dance house, located at Lavalle 2177 in the account of one source, where his tango "Don Juan" was first heard ^[1]. On 9 June 1906 he married Adela Savino ^[1].

In 1903, according to one source, Juan Carlos Bazán played with Ponzio ^[7]. Around 1910 Ponzio formed a trio with Eduardo Arolas and Leopoldo Thompson ^[2].

On 18 January 1924 Ponzio killed a man in Rosario. He was sentenced to a long prison term ^[2]. The dossier sources do not give the length of the sentence. He was released from prison by a pardon in 1928 ^[2].

After his release Ponzio performed again with Bazán. In 1932 the Ponzio-Bazán orchestra played a noted show at Luna Park ^[2]. In 1933 Ponzio appeared in the film ¡Tango!, in which he played "Don Juan" with Bazán ^[2]. He died of a heart aneurysm on 21 October 1934 ^[1].

Compositions

Ponzio is credited as the composer of the following works ^[5]:

- "Don Juan", which two sources date to 1898 ^[3][6] - "Ataniche" ^[5] - "Culpas ajenas" ^[5]

Sources differ on the early date of "Don Juan". Two sources give 1898 as the year of composition ^[3][6]. Another source places its first hearing at Mamita's dance house, in an entry dated 1900 ^[1]. These dates do not necessarily conflict, since a piece may be composed before it is first heard, but the sources do not settle when it was written or first played ^[1][3][6]. In 1933 Ponzio played "Don Juan" with Bazán in the film ¡Tango! ^[2].

Collaborators

Ponzio's known collaborators include the following ^[2][7]:

- Juan Carlos Bazán, who played with Ponzio from 1903 according to one source ^[7]. The two later led the Ponzio-Bazán orchestra, which appeared at Luna Park in 1932 ^[2], and they performed together in the 1933 film ¡Tango! ^[2]. - Eduardo Arolas and Leopoldo Thompson, with whom Ponzio formed a trio around 1910 ^[2].