It takes two to tango: cellist Razvan Suma to tour with singer-wife Analia Selis

Cellist Razvan Suma continues his series of “Do you like … ?” tours, this time with singer Analia Selis, who is also his wife, and guitarist Julio Santillan. The trio will embark on a nationwide 12-city tour dedicated to tango music.

By Oana Vasiliu

Why did you choose the tango this year? 

Razvan Suma: Tango has been part of my life since I fell in love with Analia. Among the first gifts she gave me were some CDs of old tango recordings from the 60s and 70s. At the beginning, I thought about coming up with a repertoire of modern tango such as Piazzolla, which I know and have played in many concerts. It was only when I put everything on paper that I realized that I needed more, because it seemed limited and could not reach the essential roots of the tango genre. So I asked myself an obvious question: “Who can better lead me in this direction?” The answer was very clear: Argentines. “Where can I find good Argentine musicians in Romania?” So the answer was: “at home.” This is how the story of this tour began. Analia hesitated to say yes at first; I can say that it was difficult to convince her to take part in this project – more difficult than when I asked her to marry me! – but eventually she agreed and we are in this project together.

How did you persuade Julio Santillan to be part of this national tour? Is he used to Romanian audiences?

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Razvan Suma:  This is not Julio’s first time in Romania. We have collaborated with him on at least eight concerts nationwide, I also worked with him on Analia’s concert with the Big Band Radio in November 2013, and when I completed the “Do you like Brahms?” tour, I suggested to both of them that we work together. I really believe in Julio as an artist, an arranger and a composer, and because of that I entrusted him with all arrangements for our trio.

How would you characterize the national tour which is now on its fourthrun? What major changes have occurred since the first stage?

Razvan Suma: It is a more beautiful dream than I ever imagined. It is not necessarily the fact that we’re reached four editions that makes me happy, but more the audiences numbers, which remain impressively high. This gives me strength for the future, but also the responsibility to come up with new ideas to attract and surprise music lovers. This association with musicians from outside the classical circle greatly enriches my spiritual journey, and cultures such as the Argentinean one, which I have experienced intensely, take me beyond the expressive and emotional limits of classical music.

 It is difficult to collaborate professionally with your spouse?

Razvan Suma: It is said that doing business with friends is the perfect recipe for losing them. This has happened to me too. Regarding Analia, I think it is the perfect time for a collaboration. I have taken part in dozens, maybe hundreds of tours. Each time, in extreme conditions, fatigue, stress and external factors can weigh heavily. I think our experience can solve any problem that affects us, because we are a team both at home and on stage. Analia always opens my heart and this makes me a better man.

Razvan has started a tradition with his national tours. Why did you choose this time to do a tour together?

Analia Selis: Razvan chose us (Julio Santillan and me) and we happily agreed. Last November, Julio came to Bucharest from Argentina to sing with me in my concert with the Big Band and part of the National Radio Orchestra of Romania. Razvan had barely finished the “Do you like Brahms?” tour when Julio was just arriving in Romania. Razvan took us aside and said: “I want to do a tour next year with the concept ‘Do you like tango?’ with you two.” For me it is an honor and I know that Razvan did not make ​​this proposal because I am his wife, but because he was sure we could do this tour with him.

You have Argentinean roots. What does tango mean to you?

Analia Selis: The streets of Buenos Aires, the familiar air, our way of living… I’m from the north of the country where the most important thing is folklore, even more important than tango – but pure Argentina means tango. When I listen to a tango I can see my country in front of my eyes, and playing tango I realize that it is in my blood and in my soul.

How did you go about structuring the concert? What composers we will hear?

Analia Selis: It will be a concert of tango played in the most traditional way possible, but unusual for a tango music arrangement: cello, guitar and vocals. We have been preparing this show since last year when I found out that we would do the tour, and I started listening to the oldest versions of tango. I made a long selection of 40 tangos out of which 15 will be heard in the tour. The most famous tango composers whose works will feature are Gardel, Villoldo, Dames, Piana, Discepolo and Piazzolla, as along with compositions by Julio Santillan, who is coming from Argentina to play with us and created almost all the arrangements for this event.

It is difficult to collaborate professionally with your partner?

Analia Selis: It is common knowledge that it’s not easy to collaborate with friends and family and, indeed, it isn’t. But we had the objectivity and the intelligence to collaborate in order to build. I think we built this relationship nicely and now we are ready to hit the road.

The performance will take place on October 22, at the Radio Hall, from 19.00 and on October 24. at Teatrelli.