Meter is running to sounds of flamenco
TASMANIANpoet Pete Hay and guitarist Paul Gerard bring their flamenco rhythms coupled with Spanish-inspired poetry to Hobart tomorrow in their final performance of An Evening in Andalusia, after a year touring the state with the show.
The toe-tapping evening is a tribute to Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca, whose prose influenced both Hay’s recent book of poetry, Girl Reading Lorca, and Gerard’s flamenco-style compositions.
“Lorca’s poetry is already written in a meter that fits in with the rhythms of flamenco,” Gerard said.
“And Pete’s poems also fit very well with the tempo and rhythm of flamenco, so it was a perfect fit.”
Pieces include Song for Dali, which looks into Lorca’s great friendship and love of the Surrealist painter Salvador Dali, and Lorca’s Dream, which examines Lorca’s agonising choices over the final weeks of his life before his execution in the Spanish Civil War.
This is the final chance to see the show, which is the first half of a two-part tribute.
The duo will be back in late December to launch a follow-up poetry performance, Indignados, with readings from the final chapters of Hay’s poetry book.
Indignados opens at the Peacock Theatre on December 20.
Pete Hay and Paul Gerard’s final performance of An Evening in Andalusia start at 7pm tomorrow at Yambu restaurant in Elizabeth Street. Tickets are $10 at the door.