Podcast Summary: "Acontece que no es poco | Mueren Antonio Machado (1939) y Antonio Fraguas (2018)"

Todo Concostrina · SER Podcast
Host: Nieves Concostrina
Date: February 22, 2024

Overview

This episode of "Todo Concostrina," hosted by Nieves Concostrina, marks the poignant anniversary of the deaths of two influential Spanish figures, both named Antonio: the poet Antonio Machado (1939) and the legendary cartoonist Antonio Fraguas "Forges" (2018). Through her trademark mix of historical rigor and bittersweet humor, Nieves reflects on the contrasts and connections between these two lives and deaths, weaving in personal anecdotes, historical context, and a call to remember those who have shaped Spanish collective memory.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Coincidence of February 22: Two Antonios

• Personal Connection: Nieves shares how February 22 is an emotionally intense date for her, as both Antonio Machado and Forges died on this day, albeit decades apart ([02:33]).
• Contrasts in Death and Memorials:
  • Machado: Died in exile in France, almost alone, after fleeing the Spanish Civil War. His funeral was somber and attended by very few people.
  • Forges: Died in Madrid, surrounded by family and friends, with a funeral and cremation filled with well-wishers and touching, humorous moments.

Antonio Fraguas "Forges" – Remembered with Warmth and Smiles

• Funeral Recollections: Nieves recounts attending Forges’ cremation with journalist Ramón Lobo. Together, they repurposed flowers from funeral wreaths for the graves of notable figures in the old civil cemetery—a ritual Lobo was known for ([04:16]).
• Anecdotes and Traditions:
  • Many flowers from Forges’ funeral were redistributed to honor historical figures denied burial in sacred ground, which Nieves sees as "poetic justice" ([07:26]).
  • Forges’ family maintained personal touches, like burying with him the tools of his trade: a pen, inkwell cloth, and poem paper ([07:58]).
  • Forges' daughter Berta joked about the mountain of flowers—"Parece la tumba de una corista, por Dios" ([07:45]).
• Reflection on Grieving: Nieves notes the importance of remembering not just the loss, but the unique personality and warmth of people like Forges: "Así será como recuerde siempre Antonio Fragua Forges. Pues con la sonrisa puesta..." ([03:26]).

Antonio Machado – The Poet Far from Home

• Exile and Legacy: Machado’s final days were spent suffering both physically and emotionally in Collioure, France, after fleeing from Franco’s forces. His funeral was solitary and humble, yet his grave has become a place of pilgrimage ([09:13]).
• Contrast with Manuel Machado:
  • Antonio's brother, Manuel, stayed in Francoist Spain, enjoyed a grand funeral and public honors, yet today receives far fewer visitors to his grave.
  • Nieves speculates on whether Manuel’s cooperation with Franco was opportunistic, fearful or genuinely ideological ([11:11]).
• On Repatriation:
  • Nieves expresses strong opposition to attempts to repatriate Machado's remains, arguing that Collioure—the community that embraced him in exile—has always honored him best, out of genuine care: "Nadie va a cuidar ni a celebrar a Machado en ninguna parte, como lo cuidan y lo celebran en Collie, en Francia" ([12:53]).

Memory, Legacy, and Cultural Paradoxes

• Spanish Historical Memory: The episode discusses how politics, ideology, and collective memory shape who is remembered and how, often in paradoxical or unjust ways (e.g., Francoists’ attempts to "appropriate" anti-Francoist intellectuals) ([12:19]).
• Quotes from Poetry: Several passages of Antonio Machado’s poetry are recited, reinforcing the themes of transient life and lasting memory ([08:24], [10:43], [13:27]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the two Antonios:

  • "Siempre lo digo, más que morirse los murieron, los murieron." – Nieves ([01:49])

• On Forges' funeral:

  • "Se dejan flores en las tumbas de Pío Baroja... a las trece Rosas, quedaron los dos últimos claveles que birlamos de las coronas de Antonio..." – Nieves ([04:38])
  • “La tumba de mi padre. Pero si parece la de una corista, por Dios.” – Berta Fraguas ([07:45])
  • "Parte de esa corona del Opus estaba despeluchada porque de ahí habíamos quitado muchos claveles... Creo que esto se llama justicia poética." – Nieves ([07:26])

• On repatriating Machado:

  • “Nadie va a cuidar ni a celebrar a Machado en ninguna parte, como lo cuidan y lo celebran en Collie, en Francia. Ese es su sitio.” – Nieves ([12:53])

• Machado’s poetic perspective:

  • "Todo pasa y todo queda, pero lo nuestro es pasar, pasar haciendo caminos. Camino sobre la mar." – Recited by poet/reader ([08:24])
  • "Murió el poeta lejos del hogar que cubre el polvo de un país vecino..." ([10:43])

Important Segments & Timestamps

• [02:33] – Nieves introduces the theme: the coinciding deaths of Antonio Machado and Antonio Fraguas "Forges"
• [03:34] – Brief musical homage to Forges
• [04:16] – Recounting Forges’ funeral and the ritual of honoring other historical figures in the cemetery
• [07:26] – Nieves’ reflection on the irony and “poetic justice” of Opus Dei’s flowers on secular graves
• [08:24] – Poetic recitation from Antonio Machado
• [09:13] – Discussion on the memory of Machado vs. his brother, Manuel
• [11:11] – Exploration of Manuel Machado’s Francoism and its implications
• [12:19] – Debate on the attempted repatriation of Machado’s remains
• [13:27] – Reflection on summer night memories and poetic evocations of loss

Tone and Style

The episode is rich in personal recollections, historical anecdotes, and subtle irony—hallmarks of Nieves Concostrina's storytelling. She combines deep respect for Spain’s cultural legacy with candid, sometimes wry observations about the country’s complicated relationship with its past. Deep emotion is balanced by gentle humor, particularly when recalling Forges and his family.

For listeners and history enthusiasts, this episode offers a heartfelt meditation on memory, loss, and the lasting impact of artistic and moral courage—even amid political adversity and exile.