2023-05-23 03:01:00
This 2023 is fulfilled 40 years of uninterrupted democracy in Argentina and there is much to celebrate. Some artists were fundamental in this process of democratic (re)construction and, without a doubt, Leon Gieco and Gustavo Santaolalla They are a clear example of that. This Sunday they were honored in the cycle Essential Records of Democracy: 1983-2023one of the main dishes of the programming of the Democracy and Political Imagination Festival in Latin America, within the framework of the fourth edition of the Whale Project which continues this week in its five venues: the National Bicentennial House, the Borges Cultural Center, the Cabildo Museum, the Casa Patria Grande and the Kirchner Cultural Center, where last night Barbarita Palacios (singer and guitarist) and Javier Casalla (violinist and guitarist) ) performed this concert entirely dedicated to celebrating the historical production From Ushuaia to La Quiaca.
In the first row were not only Gieco and Santaolalla but also two great bastions of this collectively conquered democracy: Estela de Carlotto, president of the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, and Norita Cortiñas, a leader of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo Founding Line. Already in the title of that work, the federal dimension of a project that undoubtedly marked a before and following in the history of Argentine music was put into play. The legend is well known, but it is worth emphasizing the unprecedented nature of that undertaking: in 1981 the duo of musicians brought together a team of twenty filmmakers and technicians with the aim of recording popular music and autochthonous sounds throughout the territory.
It can be said that it is a project that exceeded the strictly musical because it managed to account for a vast and diverse culture that until then had been invisible. “This album was very important for democracy. Thanks to Gieco and Santaolalla for the enormity they did for the Argentine people,” said Palacios at the National Auditorium. During the concert the original visual material was projected, which includes photographs by Alejandra Palacios and videos by Daniel García, pieces recorded during the recording of the disc. There were also statements by Leda Valladares, that they were like one early consecration for this project that sought to create a cartography of silver sounds.
Palacios was in charge of the artistic direction, voice, guitar and charango, while Casalla was in charge of the musical direction, arrangements, guitar, violin and programming. The members summoned for the band that performed the pieces of the honored album were Nicholas Rainone in arrangements, synthesized bass, keyboards, guitar and voice; Juan Manuel Ramirez in electronic drums and accessories; Mary Pien on acoustic guitar, charango and voice; Lucero Carabajal in legüero bass drum, electronic drums, glockenspiel and accessories; Noelia Sinks on piano; Miracles Caliva on bandoneon; Sergio Wagner on trumpet and horn; Laura Urteaga on violin; Sergio Castellani on tuba and trombone. Besides, Luciana Jury, Nadia Larcher and Laura Ros They participated as guest singers.
The concert was divided into three sections. In the first, some of the songs from the honored album were presented, which actually consists of four albums according to the latest reissue launched by Page 12 in 1999. In the midst of an emotional atmosphere, they played “Esos ojos negros”, “Don Sixto Palavecino” –a song that Gieco dedicated to who he defined as a “sachero violinist”–, “Chacarera del violín”, “Por el camino perdido” , “Prince Charming” (creation of Eduardo Mateo and Horacio Buscaglia which was interpreted by María Pien), “Para Pete” and “Cola de amor”.
The second segment was led by the invited artists. The singer from Catamarca, Nadia Larcher, was the artisan of a touching version de la vidala “I don’t know what my sorrows have” using only his voice and his guitar, and then Barbara Palacios He came up to the stove to interpret “Vidala del monte” as a duet. She also participated in this tribute to one of the most powerful voices on the current scene: accompanied by Noelia Sinks on the piano (recent winner of two Gardel Awards as well as the honorees), Luciana Jury stood out for her interpretation of the zamba “Maturana” by Cuchi Leguizamón and “En la frontera”, sung together with Palacios.
The third guest of the night was Laura Ros, who performed the famous “Carito” as a prelude to another of the highlights of the night: the projection of fragments of From Ushuaia to La Quiacathe memory of the spiritual guide Leda Valladares and the coplera from Tucuman Geronima Sequeida, and the federal imprint present in the record that was represented here by the voices of hundreds of students singing bagualas in the province of Tucumán.
Fortunately Gieco and Santaolalla are still valid and very active: this year, without going any further, Gieco won the Gardel Award for Best Songwriter Album by the little man of the sea y Santaolalla for Best Audiovisual Production Soundtrack Album by the soundtrack to The House (Netflix). They also continue to summon and question their public, who made a long line at the CCK to have their seat in the Auditorium. To close, the honorees took the stage and Gieco took the opportunity to anticipate the special concert that he has planned for 2024. His colleague was enthusiastic and excited, and together they performed “From Ushuaia to La Quiaca”, “Canto en la rama” and “I sell some black eyes” with the whole group of musicians. As if emotion were lacking, León closed with a vibrant a cappella version of “Como la cicada”.
Nora and Estela received applause from a packed auditorium. In the end they took the stage together with the Minister of Culture Tristan Bauer to give the artists pictures with the stamp of the handkerchiefs, a symbol of the collective struggle. This recognition reflects the gratitude of all those who were there singing, dancing and applauding, because their creations in general and this record in particular are part of the emotional memory and sentimental education of an entire people. His work united generations of parents and children who continue to listen to his music and, without a doubt, contributed to strengthening and consolidating the democracy that is celebrated today.
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