Orchestra
Edgardo Donato y su orquesta típica
Also known as: Orquesta Edgardo Donato, Los ocho ases del tango porteño, Edgardo Donato y sus Muchachos, Edgardo Donato y su Moderna Orquesta Típica
About
Edgardo Donato y su orquesta típica was formed in Buenos Aires in 1930 following violinist-composer Edgardo Donato’s dissolution of his earlier duo with Roberto Zerrillo. The ensemble, also billed as “Los ocho ases del tango porteño” (The eight aces of porteño tango), marked a shift toward a distinctly dance-oriented approach characterized by strong rhythmic phrasing, wide dynamic range, prominent bandoneón sections, and frequent violin solo interventions by Donato himself. The original lineup featured bandoneón players Juan Turturiello, Vicente Vilardi, and Miguel Bonano; violinists Armando Julio Piovani and Pascual Humberto Martínez; pianist Osvaldo Donato; cellist Ascanio Donato; and bassist José Campesi.
The orchestra became renowned for its constellation of celebrated singers, including Horacio Lagos (principal vocalist 1935–1942), Lita Morales (from 1939), and Romeo Gavioli (from late 1939), whose vocal performances helped define the ensemble’s sound throughout the 1930s and 1940s. Recording prolifically across multiple labels—Brunswick (until 1932), Victor/RCA (1932–1945, 165 titles), and later Pampa (1950–1961)—the orchestra left approximately 417 recordings spanning over three decades. The ensemble performed regularly at major Buenos Aires and Montevideo venues including the Broadway and Rialto cinemas, Teatro San Martín, and O’Key Club, establishing itself as a central force in the golden age of tango. The orchestra was later rebranded as “Edgardo Donato y su Moderna Orquesta Típica,” sustaining activity into the 1960s.
Sources note: Recording date sources occasionally vary slightly for the same titles across different databases. El Recodo and Tango Time Travel provide consistent year-month-day precision for most 1940–1945 recordings. Some recordings appear under variant ensemble names (Edgardo Donato y sus Muchachos, Edgardo Donato y su Moderna Orquesta Típica) reflecting the ensemble’s evolution but referring to the same core orchestra.
Members
Current
Past members
- Félix Gutiérrezsinger1932–1933
- E. Donatosinger1933–1939
- Juan Bautista Abad Reyessinger1933–1938
- Randonasinger1934–1936
- Agustín Bardisinger1934–1934
- Carabellisinger1934–1934
- V. Vilardisinger1934–1934
- Antonio Maidasinger1934–1934
- Horacio Lagossinger1935–1942
- Ángel Félix Danesisinger1935–1935
- Enrique Delfinosinger1935–1935
- G. Matos Rodriguezsinger1935–1935
- Politosinger1935–1935
- Jorge Ortizsinger1935–1935
- Bigeschisinger1936–1936
- Lita Moralessinger1939–1941
- Villoldosinger1939–1939
- Ernesto Famásinger1939–1939
- Romeo Gaviolisinger1940–1942
- Daniel Adamosinger1944–1944
- Jorge Denissinger1944–1944
- Alberto Podestásinger1945–1952
- Pablo Lozanosinger1945–1945
- Roberto Beltránsinger1945–1945
- Adolfo Rivassinger1950–1950
- Carlos Almadasinger1950–1952
- Hugo Rocasinger1951–1951
- Raúl Angelósinger1953–1953
- Roberto Morelsinger1953–1954
- Alberto Aguirresinger1957–1957
- Oscar Peraltasinger1957–1957
Recordings (100)
- Edgardo Donato – Adónde vas tan regalón – 1932
- Edgardo Donato – El huracán – 1932
- Edgardo Donato – El acomodo – 1933
- Edgardo Donato – La llorona – 1933
- Edgardo Donato – La novena – 1933
- Edgardo Donato – Mi porteñita grácil – 1933
- Edgardo Donato – Penas – 1933
- Edgardo Donato – Pobre soñador – 1933
- Edgardo Donato – Qué hacés, qué hacés! – 1933
- Edgardo Donato – Santa milonguita – 1933
- Edgardo Donato – Triste y sin alpiste – 1933
- Edgardo Donato – Veneración – 1933
- Edgardo Donato – Abombada – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – Amores viejos – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – Berretín – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – Corrales viejos – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – De ande yerba – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – Ensalada mixta – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – Esto es el colmo – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – Ladrona de Sevilla – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – Miau – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – Noche Sevillana – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – Pa’ semejante candil – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – Petronila y Candelario – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – Quién más, quien menos – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – Riachuelo – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – Risas – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – Rosiclor – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – Ruego – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – Sandia calada – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – Seguí la caravana – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – Si te perdés, chiflame – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – Soldadito del amor – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – Tierrita – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – Una luz en tus ojos – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – Y llegó el amor – 1934
- Edgardo Donato – Alleluia – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – Che, Carolina – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – Congoja – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – De mis pagos – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – Déjate querer – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – Diós lo sabe – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – Doña Maribiga – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – El día que me quieras – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – El vals de los recuerdos – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – El zorzal – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – Elegante papirusa – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – Hay que acomodarse – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – Hola, qué tal – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – La caída de la estantería – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – La cumparsita – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – La glotona – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – Lejana tierra mía – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – Madame Ivonne – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – Mi morena – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – Mi Sevilla – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – Mi tristeza – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – Muchacho de cafetín – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – Picaflor – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – Protestona – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – Rosa poneme una ventosa – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – Rosalinda – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – San Sebastián – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – Vos y yo – 1935
- Edgardo Donato – Adíos a Gardel – 1936
- Edgardo Donato – Belén – 1936
- Edgardo Donato – Chiqué – 1936
- Edgardo Donato – Embrujo gitano – 1936
- Edgardo Donato – Gallito – 1936
- Edgardo Donato – La tablada – 1936
- Edgardo Donato – La tapera – 1936
- Edgardo Donato – Mañana – 1936
- Edgardo Donato – Me voy a baraja – 1936
- Edgardo Donato – Pura chispa – 1936
- Edgardo Donato – Se va la vida – 1936
- Edgardo Donato – Secreto de amor – 1936
- Edgardo Donato – Si tú quisieras – 1936
- Edgardo Donato – Solo un recuerdo – 1936
- Edgardo Donato – Sombras del ayer – 1936
- Edgardo Donato – Tengo flor y no lo niego – 1936
- Edgardo Donato – Así es el tango – 1937
- Edgardo Donato – Gato – 1937
- Edgardo Donato – Hacete cartel – 1937
- Edgardo Donato – María – 1937
- Edgardo Donato – No te cases – 1937
- Edgardo Donato – Papas calientes – 1937
- Edgardo Donato – Pierrot apasionado – 1937
- Edgardo Donato – Virgencita – 1937
- Edgardo Donato – Alas rotas – 1938
- Edgardo Donato – Cantando bajito – 1938
- Edgardo Donato – Con tus besos – 1938
- Edgardo Donato – El adiós – 1938
- Edgardo Donato – El chamuyo – 1938
- Edgardo Donato – El estagiario – 1938
- Edgardo Donato – Ella es así – 1938
- Edgardo Donato – Embrujo – 1938
- Edgardo Donato – La milonga que faltaba – 1938
- Edgardo Donato – Qué será – 1938
- Edgardo Donato – Sacale punta – 1938
- Edgardo Donato – Te gané de mano – 1938
Albums (2)
Videos
2:59
Veronica Toumanova and Asya Moiseeva – Noches correntinas
2:42
Cristian Cerezo and Wilson Munoz – La milonga que faltaba
2:42
Maricel Giacomini and Horacio Godoy – La caída de la estantería
2:44
Sagdiana Hamzina and Dmitry Vasin – El acomodo
2:44
Patricie Porakova and Javier Antar – Con tus besos
2:40
Ayelen Urrutia and Martin Vicente – Repique del corazón
3:12
Patricie Porakova and Javier Antar – La tapera
2:35
Lorena Tarantino and Gianpiero Galdi – Repique del corazón
2:40
Sophia Paul and Julio Cesar Calderon – Qué hacés, qué hacés!
2:43
Ioana Lascu and Horia Călin Pop – Con tus besos
3:27
Sagdiana Hamzina and Dmitry Vasin – Sinfonía de arrabal
2:34
Fabian Peralta and Josefina Bermudez Avila – Sacale punta
2:43
Griselda Duarte and Nicolas di Rago – La milonga que faltaba
2:41
Maria Elisabet and Pasi Lauren – Con tus besos
3:42
Clarisa Aragon and Jonathan Saavedra – La melodía del corazón
2:43
Griselda Duarte and Nicolás di Rago – La milonga que faltaba, Pippo Tango 2018
2:40
Mariela Sametband and Guille Barrionuevo – La milonga que faltaba
3:10
Lorena Tarantino and Giovanni Cocomero – La tapera
2:49
Laura Iaru and Juan David Bedoya – Porteña linda
2:41
Chicho Frumboli and Juana Sepulveda – Sacale punta
2:34
Tilia Kimm and Adam Cornett – De punta a punta
2:46
Marina Teves and Rodrigo Videla – Quién será
2:46
Juan Pablo Ramirez and Daniel Arroyo – Porteña linda
2:39
