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Tango in France (Paris 1910s-20s)

Tango in France during the 1910s and 1920s centred on Paris, where a tango craze peaked in 1913 [1] and where Carlos Gardel made his Paris debut in September 1928 [4]. Other recorded episodes include a 1914 story linking Pope Pius X to the furlana and the tango, later denied by the Vatican [2], and Baron Megata's years in Paris in the early 1920s [3].

This topic covers the presence of tango in France, and particularly in Paris, during the 1910s and 1920s [1][4]. The sources gathered here record a small number of separate episodes rather than a continuous history [1][2][3][4].

One source states that the Paris tango craze peaked in 1913, and that by the end of that year the teachers who had introduced the dance had been banished [1]. In January 1914 a story associating Pope Pius X with the furlana and the tango was printed, and the Vatican later denied it [2].

In the 1920s, Baron Megata lived in Paris between about 1920 and 1926 and learned tango at El Garrón, where Pizarro's orchestra played [3]. Carlos Gardel made his Paris debut on 30 September 1928 at the Théâtre Fémina on the Champs-Élysées, followed by a run at the Cabaret Florida from 2 October and recording sessions for Odeon in Paris from 11 October [4]. Casimiro Aín (1882-1940) is described in a separate source as a pioneer who spread tango abroad [5].

History: the 1910s

According to one source, the tango craze in Paris reached its peak in 1913 [1]. The same source states that by the end of 1913 the teachers who had introduced the tango had been banished [1]. This account rests on a single source and is not corroborated elsewhere in the material available [1].

On 28 January 1914 a story was printed connecting Pope Pius X with the furlana and the tango [2]. The story was later denied by the Vatican, so its content is treated here as disputed rather than as established fact [2].

History: the 1920s

Baron Megata lived in Paris during the period from about 1920 to 1926 [3]. During those years he learned tango at El Garrón, a venue where Pizarro's orchestra performed [3].

Carlos Gardel made his Paris debut on 30 September 1928 at the Théâtre Fémina on the Champs-Élysées [4]. The performance was part of a benefit for victims of a hurricane in Guadeloupe [4]. From 2 October Gardel appeared in a run at the Cabaret Florida [4].

Recordings

From 11 October 1928, Carlos Gardel recorded for the Odeon label in Paris [4]. The available source does not list the titles recorded at these sessions [4].

People

Individuals named in connection with this topic include:

  • Carlos Gardel, who debuted in Paris in 1928 and recorded there for Odeon [4]
  • Baron Megata, who learned tango at El Garrón in Paris in the early 1920s [3]
  • Pizarro, whose orchestra played at El Garrón [3]
  • Casimiro Aín (1882-1940), described as a pioneer who spread tango abroad [5]

References

How Tangopedia works

  1. en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.orgSource page
  2. www.icbsa.it · icbsa.it
  3. ejapo.cancilleria.gob.ar · ejapo.cancilleria.gob.arSource page
  4. buenosaires.gob.ar · buenosaires.gob.ar
  5. en.wikipedia.org · en.wikipedia.org
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