Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Friday 7 July 2017
Argentina reopens museum for tango great Gardel

By ALMUDENA CALATRAVA
Associated Press
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina
(AP) — At the peak of his
career in the 1930s, Carlos
Gardel’s fans used to gath-
er at the curb outside his
home, hoping to hear one
of Argentina’s greatest
tango singers practice a
tune before a show. Now,
they can gather inside to
hear him again.
Visitors to the remodeled
“Carlos Gardel Museum
Home” at his former house
in the Argentine capital
can see black-and-white
images of key moments
in the career of the singer
who gave tango a huge
boost worldwide.
And the voice is on tap as
well. Visitors can hear 893
recordings, which make
up most of his repertoire,
through headphones in-
stalled there.
“It’s very interesting to
visit the house where he
lived and to give children People walk in front of the Carlos Gardel museum in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, July 5, 2017.
a chance to understand Associated Press
that there are other types
of music,” said Siomara rants worldwide.
Gordon, a Colombian The museum was first in-
tourist visiting the museum. augurated in 2003, and
“He expresses love like no reopened in June. It is lo-
other.” cated in the tango-crazed
Gardel’s cult remains pow- Abasto neighborhood of
erful more than eight de- Argentina’s capital, where
cades after his death in a Gardel used to frequent
1935 air crash in Colombia cafes and often perform.
at the age of 44. Argen- Gardel bought the home
tines often leave carna- in 1926 at the peak of his
tions and burning ciga- career and lived there with
rettes at his tomb in Cha- his mother, Marie-Berthe
carita cemetery in Buenos Gardes. The place be-
Aires and couples dance came the gathering point
to his songs in packed halls. for journalists and friends
Iconic images of him with visiting the singer.
a fedora hat pulled over “Gardel had this grand
his brow and a cigarette piano where he would re-
dangling from his lips are hearse his compositions.
plastered on walls through- Guitarists and other musi-
out Buenos Aires — and on cians would get together A mural of Carlos Gardel is seen a block away from the Carlos Gardel museum in Buenos Aires,
those of Argentine restau- with other friends and Argentina, Wednesday, July 5, 2017.
Associated Press
Gardel’s mother, who was material made shortly be-
a great cook, would cook fore his death. There is an
for all of them,” museum di- authenticated copy of
rector Carlos Koffman, said Gardel’s birth certificate,
near the windows through which shows that he was
which Gardel’s fans out- born in Toulouse, France,
side could hear him prac- on Dec. 11, 1890.
tice. One room in the exhibition
The museum is filled with focuses on Gardel’s tour of
mementos including un- Latin America before his
published audiovisual death.q
A picture of Carlos Gardel is is seen on a TV screen at the Carlos
Gardel museum in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, July
5, 2017.
Associated Press