Antonio Gades, a tribute. Special feature

I hope you're still sailing

The first time I was lucky enough to meet Antonio Gades face-to-face, my suspicions were confirmed: his presence was just as enigmatic off-stage as it was on-stage. I was impressed by his peculiar way of telling anecdotes, bringing to mind memories in such a profound, caring way. I thought I recognized in Antonio a Gades different from the one they'd led me to imagine.

He's an artist who drew up a very positive, very personal creative approach within flamenco. And no-one could deny his capacity for creativity and his understanding when it came to breathing life into the characters he himself had chosen to portray.

I think his mission as an artist was more than accomplished. He left behind a great legacy from which all those who consider themselves his artistic successors can learn and take pleasure in studying his laborious career.

For all these reasons, Antonio, I'd like to pay homage to you now with this poem by Blas de Otero:

“A mí
Morir no me importa
Lo que me importa es dejar de vivir
Y que la vida sea tan corta”

“To me
Death doesn't matter
What matters to me is that I should cease living
And that life should be so short”

P.S.: I hope you're still sailing.

Eva Yerbabuena

magazine@flamenco-world.com