We returned at 9.20, after a stop at a conveniently placed hostelry for purposes of pre-show refreshment. Mataderotr3s holds about 30 people, and we were numbers 4 and 5 through the door. Twenty minutes later, when all seats were occupied, the show started.
Such fun! Such music, philosophy, romance and humour, in a theatre where the musicians knew half the audience by name.
Here were three Spaniards with an odd French name - Les Bigots: composer and singer Juan Hedo on acoustic guitar, with Ángel Pastor and Luis Ángel Naranjo on violin and percussion, musical arrangement and design.
Juan Hedo sang his own songs, and adaptations of French, Italian, Portuguese and Sephardic songs. Poet, clown and teasing showman, he was supported all the way by some engaging percussion; the violin backing some songs, and playing solo passages in others. His vocal style has a very French feel to it, as do several of his songs, and in an interview on his website, he cites Jacques Brel and Georges Brassens as important influences. Even so, as this evening's programme showed, French songs are only part of an intriguing mix. Juan Hedo is an original.
Las avenidas San Germain (French chanson with a wink)
El marinero (loved this - and the percussion!)
Maravilloso
Arríon
Bocca di rosa
No mercado da Ribeira
Crear (I loved this.)
Don Ramiro
Sir Nayam (one of the sephardic songs - with tabla)
Trompettes de la Renommeé
La plaza del Dos de mayo (a picture in words and music)
Si el amor (100% romance in the real world)
Lisboa (Whoa!)
Como las catedrales (couldn't understand all of it, but enough, definitely enough, to try and find the lyrics - no luck so far)
Les Bigots are on again next week, same time (!), same place, 4€. I think I shall have to go back for more.
2 comments:
hi! I was there also, last Saturday...
Juan sings with all his heart and feeling, you can say it by the sound of his voice. The words in her songs are totally poetic, if you listen to them carefully you realise they are full of irony and tenderness... it really touched my feelings and couldn't help crying (a bit!) with a couple of songs, like in Maravilloso & Crear.
for my it was also a very special discovery... I recommend him to anyone who enjoys true feeling in music.
Note how green I am. I REALLY miss living in a REAL city. Enjoy all of it that you can!
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