Leo Brouwer is in shock. The sudden death of Paco de Lucia has been a blow to the Cuban guitarist and composer, his friend for four decades and who was responsible for the genius of flamenco offered two concerts in Havana, with 26 years of differences, but the latter barely a few months ago, in October…
“The Maestro is very concerned, has put aside all his activities, including the composition,” his wife, Isabelle Hernandez, who directed the Leo Brouwer Festival of Chamber Music, told OnCuba. The last edition’s highlight was the big recital by the Spanish virtuoso at the Karl Marx Theater, a unique gift for those who attended.
That show was undoubtedly memorable: for two hours Francisco Sánchez Gómez, from Algeciras to the world, regaled the audience with his unparalleled strumming. Brouwer himself had already warned: “none of Paco’s performances is the same”.
He opened with “Rondeña” and there he performed some masterpieces, accompanied by Antonio Sanchez on guitar, Antonio Serrano on harmonica, Israel Suarez on percussion, Cuban Alain Pérez on bass, the singers Antonio el Rubio de Pruna and David de Jacoba, and the bailaor Antonio Fernández (Farruquito).
“Paco is a genius who transformed flamenco without losing tradition, without losing magic, constantly gaining in evolution, attributes,” Brouwer said of Paco who also played guitar like he had 100 fingers.
Paco’s death hurts because comes when we haven’t recover from others yet. Maybe that’s why Silvio Rodriguez wrote in his blog that “heaven must be partying.” Maybe, after all, Paco will be reunited in the afterlife with the Camarón de la Isla, and even La faraona, and they come together to have a welcoming “soiree”. And we are weeping for him …
Photo: Archives of Leo Brouwer Festival of Chamber Music, Bianchini studio
