Review: Martin Alvarado

25th November 2011

I always feel guilty when a performer plays to a sitting-room sized audience. Should I have dragooned in a party of friends?

Martin Alvarado looked pleased to see just seventeen of us when he stepped into the Hexagon theatre on Sunday night at the Birmingham mac.

Alvarado prefers small salon singing, despite being known as the Argentinean tango singer from the hit stage show, Midnight Tango, the one featuring Strictly's tango darlings, Vincent and Flavia. He is currently touring as a solo performer, but on this night he was accompanied by a friend, the Finnish bandoneon player and pianist, Mikko Helenius.

Yes, I said Finnish. Alvarado has swapped Buenos Aires for Helsinki.

This has an icy logic when one learns that in terms of numbers, Finland is the foremost tango country. Less obvious to me was how the Finn, with hands like polar bear paws, managed to play that fiendishly complex accordion-like instrument, the bandoneon, while simultaneously playing on a piano keyboard. Alvarado whispered that his compatriot plays the bandoneon while driving too. Not in England, of course.

Alvarado's full-bodied Spanish and superbly supple tenor voice made for mouth-watering listening. He has a unique repertoire, having set to music some significant Argentinean poems. For populists there were old tango favourites to hum to and an opportunity to sing along. It was a rare privilege we few enjoyed, having Martin Alvarado to ourselves. He continues his tour of the UK this week.

More details

Saturday November 26: London, The Light.

Tango @ the Light Milonga, The Light Temple, Austin Street, Shoreditch, E2 7NT, with guest Jonathan Taylor (Tango Siempre) on piano. Concert: 8-9pm. £12

~ La Dulce, 25th November 2011