More than a year ago, the actor, dancer, and singer David Tobias Schneider began writing a new music program. “Tangos between Heaven and Hell” is how he calls his chansons and Tango Songs, which he is now presenting to the audience. Already in 2014, he performed his first music revue “El Tanguero” across Germany, which was very successful with viewers and the press.
The new show “Tangos between Heaven and Hell”
On October 17, 2020, David Tobias Schneider’s new show celebrates its premiere—in a sense as a continuation of the revue “El Tanguero”. From his character, the well-behaved insurance clerk Johann Müller, who had to laboriously learn his first dance steps, he has now become a fiery Don Juan and a heartbreaker.
With the new project, the focus is on the music. The program “Tangos between Heaven and Hell” offers a wide range of classic Tango Songs, chansons and love songs, as well as original compositions. The foundation is Argentine Tango, but now and then you’ll also find Swing, Milonga, Vals, Candombe, Jazz, or Pop—just as singer-songwriter material is used.
David Tobias Schneider developed the songs together with the accordionist Margit Sonnauer—composing, arranging, and writing his own lyrics for them. David sings, accompanied by Margit Sonnauer and her band “Tango Sur” (Nenad Uskoković on cello and Lori Lorenzen on guitar). Sometimes cheeky, sometimes critical, sometimes melancholy—passion, longing, and humor are guaranteed in this show!
The CD for the Tango Songs show
A CD of the new Tango Songs was already recorded in the studio and is available for download. All the musicians involved are looking forward to a time when live concerts can take place again more often, and they want to go on tour with “Tangos between Heaven and Hell” as soon as possible!
Tango Songs that give you goosebumps
For David Tobias Schneider, it has now become almost unsettling how some Tango Songs from his program describe our present day. At the turn of the year, he hadn’t even imagined it. For him, the approach was at first about art and poetry—without wanting to be realistic. His songs are about longing, passion, pain, and humor, but also a great deal of positivity and hope.
David says: “The premiere with the milonga afterward was supposed to happen as early as May. But since then, a lot has happened. The world has changed. Precisely between these mental worlds—heaven and hell—we find ourselves in an absurd and grotesque reality.”
Art and culture haven’t exactly made it easy. That’s why I’m all the more happy that the premiere will now take place on October 17 at the Kleines Theater Haar, and that another performance is scheduled for October 29 at the Munich Theater Drehleier! The Milonga, which was planned to follow the show, however, we will have to postpone for an indefinite time.”
Text fragment “Heaven and Hell”
Everything was easy, air, and light after all. It was so simple—why not now? I don’t feel myself anymore First far too light, then too heavy How does it go on? How does it go on? I think of you But this thinking drives me completely crazy! Euphoria first, then utterly downcast. Heaven and Hell In the very same moment …
Successful backstory: “El Tanguero”
To be someone else—to leave that boring job behind and realize his dreams! This is what keeps insurance clerk Johann Müller on his mind ever since he encountered Argentine Tango in the English Garden in Munich. The more he wants to escape from his dull everyday life, plunder his bank account, and start all over again.
In 2014, David Tobias Schneider wrote the musical revue “El Tanguero” for the Landestheater Niederbayern. It doesn’t just tell the story of the unlucky lover who leaves Johann Müller behind—it also offers a glimpse into the history of the Argentine Tango.
Together with his dance partner Sonja Armisén, David made his way through the revue with lots of charm and energy—singing, playing, and dancing. Musically, the two were accompanied by Thomas Rotter on piano and Bernhard Seidel on double bass. They played their own interpretations of well-known Tango Songs along the lines of Carlos Gardel. Always included: a good pinch of humor and irony!
Press reviews
“Schneider melts hearts because the heart is anyway the central organ of Latin American musical creation.”
Christian Muggenthaler, Landshuter Zeitung, 27.1.14
“… including all the tango clichès that David Tobias Schneider repeatedly and charmingly parodies and turns into irony.”
Michaela Schabel, Landshut aktuell, 29.1.14
“EL Tanguero, in quick succession, shows the entire world of feelings that opens up with tango.”
Bayerische Staatszeitung. 31.01.14
“World-weariness, longing, and plenty of eroticism”
Theresa Eisele, Passauer Neue Presse, 24.3.2014
Longer article in the Tangodanza, magazine for Argentine Tango No. 4/2014
About David Tobias Schneider
From 2001 to 2005, David Tobias Schneider completed his acting studies in Switzerland at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater/Bern. He was a scholarship holder of the Bavarian Ministry for Art and Science. In 2005, he was awarded the “Loebpreis” as the “Best young actor” by the city of Bern.
After that, his engagements took him to theaters in various cities: the Stadttheater Luzern and the Theater Konstanz, and also to Zurich, Basel, and Karlsruhe. For many years, he was engaged at the Landestheater Niederbayern in Landshut. In Munich, he appeared in several productions of the independent scene, among others at the teamtheater. Since 2014, David has been working freelance, increasingly also for film and television. In 2015, he celebrated his directorial debut at Theater an der Rott with the piece “Dangerous Liaisons”.
In addition to his work as an actor, speaker, and director, David Tobias Schneider is a professional dancer and singer. He gives dance lessons and choreographs shows for theater and for film and television. He also sang in various bands, musicals, operettas, and revues.
David and the Tango
Since he was 14 years old—that is, for more than 20 years—David has been dancing Argentine Tango. In the nineties, his mother herself gave tango lessons and introduced him accordingly to dance and its culture. Even at 16, David danced his first tango show.
Afterward, he continued his training with renowned dancers from Argentina, Germany, and around the world. A long-standing collaboration also connects him with Sonja Armisén, who is considered the creator of the style “Tangofusion”. Today, David is a sought-after tango teacher, coach, and movement therapist in Munich.
At the center of his work with tango is a clear interpretation of the music—improvisation, a feel for one’s own body, and the relationship with the other person. During his acting studies, he also studied singing—so it was only natural for him to sing his first Tango Songs soon.
Margit Sonnauer and the band “Tango Sur”
Margit Sonnauer—the pianist, accordionist, and composer—was born in Hamburg. For many years she played at the Staatstheater in Stuttgart. Other engagements brought her to the stage as a musician in the “Liederhalle” in Stuttgart and in productions for television. She took over the musical direction for several orchestras, choirs, and musicals.
Since 1998, Margit has lived in the Munich area and works as a pianist and accordionist, among other places at Theater Ingolstadt. In addition, she is a music lecturer, studio musician, and composer.
Her collaboration with David Tobias Schneider began during the preparation for Molière’s piece “Don Juan”, which in 2019 was shown with great success at the Open Air Sommertheater at Schloss Nymphenburg. Margit was responsible for the musical accompaniment of the piece, which included many original compositions and was clearly shaped by tango.
In the new show “Tangos between Heaven and Hell”, she, together with her band “Tango Sur”, provides the musical accompaniment.
Stage is set for the Tango program
Two beautiful and traditional venues are the places hosting the new show with Tango Songs by David Tobias Schneider. The premiere is at the Kleines Theater Haar, and another performance will take place at the Theater Drehleier.
The Kleines Theater Haar
The magnificent building in which the Kleines Theater Haar is located is a true Art Nouveau gem. In 1912, it was handed over to the community of people working in psychiatry. In its eventful history, it has already been many things: a pharmacy, a barracks for beds, or a cinema.
Today, the Kleines Theater Haar is once again what it should be: a cultural center with a versatile program consisting of music, theater, cabaret, and more. In addition, the house feels committed to social culture—fully in line with its sponsors: Bezirks Oberbayern, the municipality of Haar, and kbo-Sozialpsychiatrisches Zentrum gGmbH.
Alongside a large, flexible theater hall, there is a nice café that also offers a small stage for more intimate performances. The building also has a garden for open-air events.
The Theater Drehleier
From 1976 to 1997, the Theater Drehleier, run by Werner Winkler, could be found at the corner of Balan/Pariser Straße in Munich. Countless cabaret programs, revues, varietés, or comedy shows took place in these rooms.
In 1997, the Drehleier moved to Rosenheimerstrasse 123, nearby. The move became necessary because the old building was to be renovated. On Rosenheimer Straße, there were also larger premises where it was possible to incorporate the original decoration from the old location.
All the big names of the cabaret and small art scene paid their respects at the Drehleier: Sigi Zimmerschied, the Spider Murphy Gang, Konstantin Wecker, BAP, the Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung, the revue theater Blackout, the Biermöslblosn, the in-house variety show Spectaculum, Ringsgwandl, Bruno Jonas, Jörg Hube, Ottfried Fischer, and many more.
So David Tobias Schneider is in illustrious company when he presents his new Tango Songs at this place!
Event in cooperation with You Tango.
Links
Go to the album “Between Heaven & Hell” on Bandcamp here.
David Tobias Schneider (actor, dancer, singer) on Instagram
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Photos: Leander Hartung, David. T. Schneider, Drehleier, Kleines Theater Haar.
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