Tango with Cally is a weekly radio program hosted by Saint Louis Symphony musician Cally Banham. She shares tango recordings from the late 1920s to today, along with stories about the history and culture of Tango music and dance.

Tango with Cally

Host Cally Banham presents an assortment of Tango Golden Era dance favorites commonly heard at milongas around the world. It’s hard to sit still when the lively waltzes and tangos from the big orchestras are playing! Featuring music from Aníbal Troilo, Carlos Di Sarli, Osvaldo Pugliese, Juan D’Arienzo, and more.

Tango with Cally, S2:E18 - Dance Party

Astor Piazzolla first heard the Kronos Quartet perform in New York toward the end of his life. Mutual admiration between the composer and the ensemble led to a meaningful collaboration, which included Piazzolla’s last-ever studio recording session. Host Cally Banham shares recordings of of Kronos Quartet performing the music Piazzolla wrote for them.

Tango with Cally, S2:E19 - Kronos Quartet

Pianist, orchestra leader and composer José Basso was trained by the great Anibal Troilo, then led his own orchestra uninterruptedly for more than fifty years! Everywhere he went, from Argentina to Japan, he was wildly popular. Host Cally Banham plays the music of José Basso spanning his long career and tells stories of his extraordinary life.

Tango with Cally, S2:E20 - Jose Basso

Carlos Gardel’s tragic death in a flight from Medellín to Bogotá has imprinted in Colombians a deep love for tango. Host Cally Banham explores the journey of tango in Colombia, from a genre relatively unknown to one of its most famous and popular music and dance styles. (Pictured: “Dancing in Colombia" 1980 by Colombian artist Fernando Botero.)

Tango with Cally, S2:E21 - Colombia and Tango

Orquesta Color Tango has performed in the most elite venues across the globe since 1990, and their eleven albums are heard and danced to in milongas worldwide! This week’s episode showcases their recordings, plus host Cally Banham’s personal story about meeting Director Roberto Alvarez and the musicians of Color Tango in Buenos Aires.

Tango with Cally, S2:E22 - Color Tango Orchestra

Pope Francis, who was born in Buenos Aires, is known to be a big fan of Tango. In December of 2014, thousands of people danced a mass tango in St. Peter’s Square in honor of the Pope's 78th birthday! Host Cally Banham recounts some interviews that touch on Pope Francis’s experience with the tango and features his favorite music.

Tango with Cally, S2:E23 - Milonga for the Pope

This week's episode offers an overview of Astor Piazzolla's only opera, Maria de Buenos Aires. Host Cally Banham shares highlights from the surreal plot, then takes a closer look at the instrumental interludes and the opera's most enduring aria, "Yo soy Maria" – "I am Maria".

Tango with Cally, S2:E24 - I am Maria

Argentine classical composer Osvaldo Golijov grew up listening to the tango nuevo of Astor Piazzolla. One of his most popular compositions, “Last Round”, is an homage to Piazzolla and also quotes a melody from Tango icon Carlos Gardel! Cally gives the background on this lively piece and features some of Golijov’s other notable compositions.

Tango with Cally, S2:E25 - Composer Osvaldo Golijov

Host Cally Banham features Sinfonia Buenos Aires, one of the last pieces Astor Piazzolla wrote before his teacher Nadia Boulanger convinced him to break away from the traditional classical style of composing and develop his own voice with the tango.

Tango with Cally, S2:E26 - Symphonic Piazzolla

Host Cally Banham features musician Rodolfo Biagi, who developed a distinctive technique during the Golden Era. From behind the piano, he directed his tango orchestra to place some accents outside the beat – and to leave some beats out completely!

Tango with Cally, S2:E27 - Biagi Off-Beat

On this week’s episode we meet two pioneers of tango recorded history – Eloísa D’Herbil de Silva, the first woman composer of tangos, and Maruja Pacheco Huergo, an extraordinarily talented pianist and composer, who broke down barriers in the male-dominated tango world.

Tango with Cally, S3:E1 - Women of Golden Era Tango Part 1: The Composers

Several legendary tango singers and actresses of the silver screen are featured this week, including Mercedes Simone, Azucena Maizani, and Tita Merello (pictured). Cally shares their classic recordings along with stories about their fabled careers.

Tango with Cally, S3:E2 - Women of Golden Era Tango Part 2: The Movie Stars

Mezzo-soprano Ada Falcón, muse to Francisco Canaro and likely the most famous muse in tango history, is spotlighted this week, along with dancers Carmencita Calderón and Lola Candales, who inspired the popular tango “La Morocha”.

Tango with Cally, S3:E3 - Women of Golden Era Tango Part 3: The Muses

Host Cally Banham takes a closer look at the beginning of the Tango Nuevo movement, featuring the music of Astor Piazzolla and other artists from the beginning of the 21st century.

Tango with Cally, S3:E4 - Original Tango Nuevo

Composer, orchestra leader and violinist Alfredo Gobbi developed a very personal way of feeling and expressing tango. For this he was nicknamed “The Romantic Violin of Tango”! Host Cally Banham shares Gobbi’s story and his beautiful recordings.

Tango with Cally, S3:E5 - Alfredo Gobbi’s Romantic Violin

In 1967 tango musician José Basso traveled to Japan for what was supposed to be a month... that turned into a year! In 1970, he recorded a spectacular album in collaboration with Japanese musicians. This week, host Cally Banham features music from  “Inedito”.

Tango with Cally, S3:E6 - José Basso in Japan

This week Cally features Yo-Yo Ma, internationally renowned cellist and one of the greatest classical recording artists of all time. An enthusiastic crossover musician, Yo-Yo Ma championed the tango in his 1999 Grammy Award-winning album “The Soul of the Tango”.

Tango with Cally, S3:E7 - Yo-Yo Ma’s Soul of the Tango

Host Cally Banham celebrates the life and music of Florindo Sassone, the violinist and band leader who modernized the Tango orchestra in the mid Golden Era, adding harp, percussion, and other exotic instruments to the traditional instrumentation. The result was a totally unique, rich, and lush sound!

Tango with Cally, S3:E8 - The Sound World of Florindo Sassone

Tango composers loved to write their vocals for the flexible and expressive baritone register. This week we’ll hear recordings from some of the Golden Era’s most important baritone singers, including Alberto Podestá (pictured), Ernesto Famá, and Charlo.

Tango with Cally, S3:E9 - The Baritones of Tango

In this farewell episode, host Cally Banham presents a play-through of her recently released album Tango to the Cor, with narration. Cally and the musicians of Cortango perform a collection of traditional and concert tangos.

Tango with Cally, S3:E10 - Tango To The Cor

Classical music in St Louis, from Classic 107.3 and 96.3 HD2