(From left) Daresha Kyi, Laura Garcia Lorca and Catherine Gund.

By Yurema Perez-Hinojosa

Laura Garcia Lorca, niece of Federico García Lorca and president of the Federico García Lorca Foundation, sat down with co-producers/directors Catherine Gund and Daresha Kyi to reflect on her relationship with Chavela Vargas.

Laura García Lorca’s father, Francisco, is Federico's younger brother. Laura is the director of a foundation dedicated to the study and circulation of her uncle’s work. Laura had originally studied Spanish literature at the University of Cambridge. She had trained to become an actress and even performed in a play written by her uncle entitled “The Shoemaker's Prodigious Wife.”

Chavela and Laura Lorca met during one of Chavela’s visits to Spain. Lorca distinctly remembers seeing Chavela perform at the Caracol Hall in 1993. Laura recalls being immediately captivated by Chavela’s passionate performance and intense spirit. They maintained a close relationship despite living oceans apart from each other. Laura often visited Chavela in Mexico. The two bonded over discussing the meaning behind Federico’s work as well as reflecting on the poet’s life.

Photo © Guadalupe Vallina — Photo © **Guadalupe Vallina**

Chavela had a deep admiration for Federico Garcia Lorca. In 1993, she stayed at the “Residencia de Estudiantes" in Madrid, the same residency where García Lorca once studied. One afternoon a bird perched itself on Chavela's balcony and she sensed it was García Lorca's spirit. Chavela soon begun having lengthy conversations with the poet's ghost. These mystical interactions carried over even when Chavela stayed at her house in Tepoztlan.

Chavela grew so fond of Lorca she wrote him a tribute album that combined his poetry with her music in 2012 entitled “La Luna Grande”. The album is Chavela's take on interdisciplinary art. It is a beautiful compilation of Lorca’s work infused with Chavela’s musical expertise.

Bibliography

Lorca, Laura Garcia. "En La Muerte De Chavela Vargas: Una Deuda Con Garc."ABC.es. N.p., 8 June 2012. Web. 21 July 2016. <http://www.abc.es/20120805/cultura-musica/abci-deuda-garcia-lorca-chavela-201208052130.html>

Jonás G., Ricardo, and Rubén Díaz Caviedes. "Laura García-Lorca: «No Somos Partidarios De Remover La Tierra, Pero Sí De Conocer Y Recordar La Historia» - Jot Down Cultural Magazine." Jot Down Cultural Magazine. N.p., 24 Dec. 2013. Web. 21 July 2016. <http://www.jotdown.es/2013/12/laura-garcia-lorca-no-somos-partidarios-de-remover-la-tierra-pero-si-de-conocer-y-recordar-la-historia/>.

COMUNICADO: CHAVELA VARGAS Y LAURA GARCÍA LORCA EN LA FERIA INTERNACIONAL DEL LIBRO EN EL ZÓCALO, ESTE DOMINGO. N.p., 22 Oct. 2011. Web. 21 July 2016. <https://www.facebook.com/notes/chavela-vargas-official/comunicado-chavela-vargas-y-laura-garc%C3%ADa-lorca-en-la-feria-internacional-del-lib/229582783768254/>

González, Mariana. "La Pasi." ELMUNDO. N.p., 13 Mar. 2015. Web. <http://www.elmundo.es/cultura/2015/03/13/55032ac6268e3e2e1a8b4575.html>.