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Richard Jernigan -> RE: Documentaries about Flamenco? (Jul. 29 2020 22:44:30)
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This thread reminded me that I had not watched "Queen of the Gypsies, a Portrait of Carmen Amaya."
I saw Carmen Amaya at her last performance in New York City in 1962. My friend Rodolfo "Blackie" A. and I had a stage side table. Sabicas and his entourage were at the next table, minus any of the beautiful young blondes often seen on his arm.
At the next table were Rolando Valdés-Blain, his wife Joan and friends. The Valdés were good friends of Carmen. He was a noted classical guitarist, founder of the Guitar Department at the Manhattan School of Music.
Blackie and I were young soldiers in our early twenties, but we had on good suits and thought well of ourselves.
Carmen's performance left an indelible impression.
This thread prompted me to order the DVD produced by Joyce Ajami. I watched it last night.
I read Paco Sevilla's "Queen of the Gypsies." It is detailed and informative. The DVD documentary gives you a lot of incredible, blazing performances, and many reminiscences of Carmen by friends and relatives. The DVD conveys more of Carmen's generous, loving and egalitarian character.
For example, one short segment reprises an episode aboard an ocean liner. An officer asks Carmen to perform for the First Class passengers. A crew member asks her to perform for them. Carmen tells the officer that the First Class passengers will have to wait, then goes to the crew quarters on a lower deck and dances first for them.
The friends' and family's heartfelt love and respect for Carmen come through clearly.
RNJ
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