Orquesta Francini-

Pontier

Orquesta Francini-Pontier was an

Orquesta típica formed in 1945 in
Argentina by the violinist Enrique Mario
Francini and the bandoneonist Armando
Pontier. The orchestra played together
until 1955 and was one of the leading
tango orchestras of its day.
The two musicians started their musical
career together in the tango orchestra led
by Juan Ehlert which later moved to
Buenos Aires in 1937 to play on Radio
Prieto.

In 1939, the two joined the orchestra that

had recently been put together by Miguel
Caló and included Osmar Maderna
(piano) and Domingo Federico
(bandoneon).

The turning point in their careers came in

1945 when they formed their own
orchestra which made its debut on 1
September in Tango Bar in Buenos Aires
with Juan José Paz on piano; in the
bandoneon section, Pontier, Ángel
Domínguez, Nicolás Paracino and Juan
Salomone; on violins, Francini, Pedro
Sarmiento, Aquiles Aguilar and Mario
Lalli; Rafael del Bagno on double bass
and the singers Raúl Berón and Alberto
Podestá.

They played on Radio El Mundo and

released their first recording on RCA
Records in 1946 with Sirva otra copa,
written by Arturo Gallucci and José
Rótulo, and Margo with music by Pontier
and lyrics by Homero Expósito, both
featuring the singer Alberto Podestá.

Appearances at the Piccadilly, the Ebro

Bar and the Tibidabo cabaret followed
and in 1947 the arranger Argentino
Galván joined them. Their success
continued until, by mutual consent, they
split up in 1955.

The recorded output of the orchestra

totalled over 100 numbers including
Remolino with Raúl Berón; Pichuco an
instrumental; Alma de bohemio, with
Alberto Podestá; Nunca tuvo novio with
the singer Roberto Rufino; Claveles
blancos with Rufino; El ciruja, the first
recording of the singer Julio Sosa in
Argentina; A los amigos, an instrumental;
Princesa del fango, with Sosa; A la
guardia vieja, an instrumental; Olvidao,
also with Sosa; Por una muñeca, with the
singer Roberto Florio; Tema otoñal,
written by Francini, and Chiqué, both
instrumentals. Other singers that
appeared with the orchestra included,
Héctor Montes, Pablo Moreno, Mario
Lagos and Luis Correa.

References
Gobello, José, Mujeres y hombres que
hicieron el tango, Centro Editor de
Cultura Argentina, Buenos Aires, 2002.
ISBN 950-898-081-8

External links
[1] Todo Tango history of the
orchestra.
[2] Todo Tango biography of Francini.
 [3] Todo Tango biography of Pontier.

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title=Orquesta_Francini-
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Last edited 8 months ago by Gere…

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