The emotional goodbye of Joan Manuel Serrat to the stages: how was the historic concert

From Barcelona

At a bend in the path that goes up Montjuïc, in the shadow of the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, the Palau Sant Jordi was waiting, knowing that it was time for a party. Big night, nothing more and nothing less than the withdrawal from the stages of Joan Manuel Serrat (Barcelona, ​​1943) this December 23, 2022. There were people hours before the start of the concert in the vicinity of the Palau, which was solemnly filling up up to the flag

"I proclaim my farewell of my own free will," warned the singer-songwriter, at the beginning of a show full of mutual affection public-artist-public from beginning to end. And it is that the feelings were "contradictory" throughout the night, as the noi from Poble-sec recognized from the tables. This was a party, Serrat wanted it that way, "I want to have a balls time", but, nevertheless, he could not hide his emotion when the audience thanked him for his career, for so many years, from 1965 to this very day. friday. Or when in the final stretch of the show he thanked "life, family, my parents, my brothers, my nephews, my wife and partner, my children, daughter and grandchildren."

And it seems incredible, but that's it, we can go down the hill, the party is over on my street. He who has toured the world so many times, Spain, Europe, Latin America, New York, chose as his final point the Palau, which is barely two kilometers from the house where he was born in Poble-sec, on the slopes of Mount from Montjuïc, from where you can contemplate the blue of the Mediterranean.

When Mediterranean sounded, by the way, the pavilion broke, also with Para la libertad, Paraules d'amor or Cantares, the latter two sung at the top of their lungs from the seats, as Serrat himself claimed: "You will also want to sing". However, the concert began with Temps era temps, Cançó de bressol and El carrusel del Furo, to go into the matter, since it was a matter of strolling through a musical career of more than five decades. The rhythm of Fiesta was marked by the Public from beginning to end with their palms. And it is that, it goes without saying, this was a party due to the commitment of the host, despite the hidden tears of more than one person.

Of the enormous relevance that his compositions have for the history of Catalan and Spanish song, not much more can be added. Of the intrepid ability to give voice to poems by authors of the stature of Antonio Machado or Miguel Hernández (the Nanas de la Cebolla that he sang this Friday gave the almost 20,000 people present on Montjuïc goosebumps), neither. Joaquín Sabina already wrote about his personality as a singer: "My cousin, the nano, when he sings, his heart trembles in his throat."

And yet there is still something more to add. After his last concert, we must also mourn the loss of the interpreter, the master of the stage, the comedian, the actor. The dexterity with which the Barcelonan moves on the stage, plays and jokes with the Public and also interprets bodily, despite his age, the songs can only be a school for artists. And his hands, how he moves his hands when he sings, how much he transmits with his gestures.

This Friday, the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, who was accompanied by the PSC staff and some of his Executive ministers, did not want to miss Serrat's last dance. The mayoress of Barcelona, ​​Ada Colau, was also at the Palau. On Thursday, the president of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonès, did the same. And it is that Serrat enjoys another gift, that of generating consensus around his figure. He leaves a man of consensus at a time when they are conspicuous by their absence.

A guitar, with this song Serrat said goodbye. The circle that closes, as this was his first song, dated on a self-titled LP back in 1965. With only one guitar he sang the last one, just as he began his career on stage. A stool, a guitar and him. And so he marched off, picking up the stool, holding the guitar, and walking toward the backdrop until he was gone. He returned to receive the last applause, a standing ovation, wearing a black shirt, as usual.

And thousands of people came down the slope of Montjuïc. Upstairs the party is over. We will miss him very much.

*Public, special for Página/12.

There were people hours before the start of the concert in the vicinity of the Palau, which was solemnly filling up up to the flag"I proclaim my farewell of my own free will," warned the singer-songwriter, at the beginning of a show full of mutual affection public-artist-public from beginning to end.