September 24, 2010 – January 9, 2011. Exhibit: Mexican Suitcase. Photographs from the “Mexican Suitcase”—almost 4,000 images from the Spanish Civil War by Robert Capa, Gerda Taro, and David “Chim” Seymour. Includes Henri Cartier-Bresson’s film With the Lincoln Brigade in Spain (ALBA). ICP Museum, 1133 Avenue of the Americas, NYC.

November 11, 6:15 pm – Nueva York: Roundtable discussion with Michael Wallace and Arcadio Díaz Quiñones. Moderated by James D. Fernández. Co-sponsored by ALBA and KJCC. King Juan Carlos I Center, 53 Washington Square South, NYC. Free to the Public.

Benefactor ($5,000 – $14,999)

Sponsor ($1,000 – $2,499)
• Ellyn Polshek in memory of Frank Pollatsek • Linda and Steve Lustig in memory of David Smith • Paul Blanc in memory of Hilda Bell • Stephanie Fein • Anonymous •

Supporter ($250 – $999)
• Alec Baldwin • Meyer Gunther in memory of Dr. Aaron Hilkevitch • Harry Parsons • Don Shaffer in memory of Doris Shaffer • Toni Henle • Nancy Wallach in memory of Hy Wallach • Elizabeth Lawrence in memory of Clarence Kailin • Joan Amatniek in memory of Ernest & Sara Amatniek • Sherna Gluck • Richard Lenon • Susan Susman in memory of Bill Susman • Milton Okin in memory of Moe Fishman • Julia Newman • Burt Cohen • Ralph & Madelynn Appelbaum • Abby Rockefeller & Lee Halprin • Walter J. Philips • Social Services Employee Union Local 371, Faye Moore, President • Stuart Davidson & Ann Cohen in memory of Abraham Cohen •

Contributor ($100 – $249)
• Michael Organek • Richard & Joanne Bogart • Roger Lowenstein • John Brademas • Chic Wolf • Ruth Sartisky • Norman E. Dorland in memory of Norman Dorland • Kit Gage • Wendy Chavkin • Lola Gellman in memory of Isaiah Gellman • Meryl Schwartz • Terry Trilling-Josephson in memory of Barney Josephson & Jo Davidson • Joanne Gunn in memory of Duncan Keir Jr.& Sid Kaufman • Todd Anderson in memory of Mel Anderson & Frank Madison • Alan Greenbaum • Vincent A. Carrafiello • Gerald Meyer • Michael Rosenfeld • Dimitri Stein • Noel Valis • Susan Wallis in memory of Milt Wolff • John Kailin in memory of Clarence Kailin • Clara C. Balter in memory of Martin Balter • Michael Batinski • Paul Zink in Memory of Ed Balchowsky • Bonnie Burt & Mark Liss in memory of Ben (Kline) Konefsky • Jordi Torrent in memory of Jimmy Yates • Kathleen Robel in memory of Charles Edward Robel (Buck) • Robert Stoll • David Millstone & Sheila Moran in memory of Mae Millstone • John R. Downes • Glenn Lindfors • Paul Goldstein in memory of Irving Weissman • Barry & Bonnie Willdorf • C.P. Oteru • Barbara R. Lilley • Michael Grossman in memory of Henry Grossman, VALB • Jorgia Bordofsky in memory of Joseph Siegel • Al & Ann Wasserman in memory of Virginia Malbin • Dydia Delyser • Helene M. Anderson • James Fernandez • Sophia Sequenzia in memory of Dorothy Shtob • Carmen De Zulueta • Frederick & Ann Adms • Dydia Delyser • Paul Friedlander in memory of Miriam Friedlander • Erin Sheehan • John W. Lamperti in memory of Abe Osheroff • Leni L. Von Blanckensee • Neal Rosenberg in memory of Leo Rosenberg • Nicholas A. Orchard in memory of Jessica Orchard and her mother Josephine • Rosalind Freundlich • Susan Linn in memory of Sidney Linn • Nancy Carter Clough • Mayne Smith • Ann A. Schoenfeld • Nancy Ganis • Marcus Singer in memory of Lawrence Cane • Peter Rubin • Robert Bordiga in memory of Milt Felsen • Thomas Doerner • Gina Luria Walker • Nancy Philips in memory of Paul Wendorf • Olga Penn in memory of Ted Pniewski, Spanish vet • Soloman Fisher • David Elsila • Aviva & Charles Blaichman in memory of Isaiah Gellman • Fred Klonsky • Alan Wald • Willar Frank, Jr • Linda & Morris Stamm in honor of Morris Stamm • Louis & Susan Segal • Edna Zucker in memory of Abe Osheroff •

Friend ($1 – $99)
• Jerome Tobis in memory of Helen Freeman • Mildred Perlow • Ann Salmirs • William R. Abens • Peter Stansky • Robert H. & Lois Whealey • Susan Nobel in memory Seymour Robbins • Ann Fildardo • Gabriel Falsetta • Faith Craig Petric & Carole Craig • Rohna Shoul • Miriam Goldberg in memory of Alex Goldberg • Kevin McKinnon • Adele & Henry Pollard • Michael Sanderson • A. Carla Drije in memory of Samuel Hirsch • James V. Compton • Elizabeth Haley-Tesh and Richard Tesh in memory of A.J.C. Haley • Dorothy Keller • Pearl G. Baley • Joan Cohen • Suzanne Samburg in memory of Bob Taylor • Willliam & Lucille Harmon • Andres Gonzales • Elaine Elinson • Abby Hellworth in memory of Abe Osheroff • Peter Goodman • Patricia Hendricks • Jay Greenfield • Daniel Berger • Seymour Joseph • Samuel Lender • Elizabeth Levenson • Kate Hendrickson in memory of George Hendrickson • Ellen Harris • Arthur Kamell in memory of Al Warren, Anthony Toney, Ralph Fasanella, Moe Fishman • Brian A. Reynolds • Michael Predmore in memory of Abe Osheroff • A. Tom Grunfeld • Martin A. Jacobs • Mitchel Berkowitz • Ruth Kavesh • Harry O’Brien • Shaun O’Connell in memory of the Irish Brigadistas • Charlotte Pomerantz Marzani in honor of Carl Marzani • Douglas & Rosemary Corbin • Jonathan Kaufman in honor of Kathie Amatniek • Patricia Maurer in memory of Max Shufer • Francis Goldon • Bernard Aisenberg • Justine Roberts • Joshua Freeman • Barabara Orentzel • Daniel Berger • Rose & Carl Silverman • Matilda Graff in memory of Saul Wellman • Michael Ames in memory of Irving & Mina Ames • Thomas Larson • David J. Lichter • Sara Scmidt Tattam • Jose Rinaldi-Jovet • Jean Rabovsky • Dennis Redman in memory of Jack Beeching • Noel & Kathy Folsom • Wolfgang H. Rosenberg • Milton Lessner in honor/memory of Nate Abramovitz • Sally Pincus in memory of Robert Potter, in honor of Gayle & Jamie • Laurel Kailin in memory of Clarence Kailin • Ada Wallach in memory of Harvey Wallach, Husband • David C. Sloan • Simon A. Prissin • Lenore Veltfort in memory of Ted Velfort • Heather Bridger • Dennis & Susan Mar • Joe Nichols in memory of John Simon, MD • Chester Hartman & Amy Fine • Tim Harding • Elizabeth Blum • Dr. Thomas Pinkson in memory of Irving Fred Soloway • Arnold Miller • Richard Long in memory of all anti-fascists 36-39 • Adele & Samuel Braude • Esther & Joseph Adler • Barry Spector • Doris Seldin • Ruth Maguire • Stephen M. Salemson in memory of Harold J. Salemson • Suzanne Samberg • Robet Frumkin • Helen Samberg • Ruth Singer • Samuel Lender • Isadore & Sharon Hofferman • Judith Rosenbaum for all those who fought and worked in the Republic • Herbert Ostroff • Elizabeth & Saul Ostrow • Kornberg family in memory of Morris Tobman • Laura Fandino in memory of Sam Schiff • Joseph & Lillian Dimow • Alan Deale • Irving Zerker • Celai Lewis • James & Rhoda Howard • Amy Epstein • Steven Pike in memory of Dr. William W. Pike • Ruth Misheloff in honor of Doug Brown • Wilsa Ryder in memory of Thomas W. O’Malley • Vicki Rhea in memory of Albert Ziegler • Joan Balter in memory of Martin Balter • David Levering Lewis • Melvin Mendelssohn in memory of Wilfred Mendelssohn • Cindy Rosenthal • David & Adele Politzer • Josephina Alverez • Bertha Lowitt • Yvette Pollack • Elizabeth Starcevic in honor of Abe & Esther Unger • Paul Foster • Pam Sporn • Richard Berg • Iris Freed • Robert Kimbrough in memory of Clarence Kailin • Marlin R. Keshishian • Paul Primakoff in honor of Dave Smith • Judith Reynolds • Sam Weinberg in memory of Lou Seluitdy • Ann Mendelbaum in memory of Jack Shafran • Ellen Waldman • Mark Levinson • Louis Braver • Angelo D’Angelo • Susan Saint-Aubin & Keith Anderson • Celia & Herbert Wollman • Murray Underwood in memory of Jacob Teiger • Lawrence Bilick • Daniel H.C. Li • Victor Fuentas • Jose Luis Aliseda • John Andrew Anton • Marsha F. Raliegh • Kenneth Nueberger • Edith Cohen in memory of Wilfred Mendelson • Anne Filardo • Gabriel Falsetta • Jack Gilhooley in memory of Joe & Leo Gordon • Elaine Spiro in memory of Elaine & Harry Mensh • Helene Burgess • Henry & Beth Sommer in memory of Harry Nobel • Shirley Nash • Susan Parker & G. Vaughan Parker in memory of Dewitt W. Parker • Victoria H. Bedford in memory of Aaron A. Hilkevitch, M.D. • Rita & John Rooney in memory of Moe Fishman • Ann I. Sprayregen • Ann S. Moy • Sy Chalis • Steve Klapper in memory of Milt Wolff • Norman Gibons • Dina E. Heisler • Nina B. De Fels • Harvey L. Smith • Carolyn Sonfield • Ilse Eden • Mary Goldstein • Florence Orbach in memory of Leo B. Orbach • Rhoda Karpatkin • Abby Rand • Kathleen Hager & Arthur Wasserman in memory of Isaiah (Shake) Gellman • Arthur Jensky in memory of Toby Jensky • Diana Cohen • Herbert Rubenstein in memory of Al Mundy • Robert & Charlotte Roth • Erica Harth • Rich Layh • Michael Zielinski • John Friedberg • Debra Milpos • Grace Anderson • Karel Kilimnik in memory of Abby, Peg and Boone Schimer • Susan for Joseph & Pauline Rosemarin • Burt Lazarin • Marjorie Harris in memory of Miriam Gettelson • Susan E. Hanna in honor of Jack Penrod • Anne McLaughlin in memory of Virginia Malbin • Edward Goldman • Estelle Katz • Manfred & Gloria Kirchheimer • Susan Fisher • Steve Arnold • Jane Brett • Kathleen Sheldon & Steve Tarzynski • Lucienne O’Keefe • Dris Hiller • Estelle Holt • Estelle Charles • Samuel Simon • Enzo Bard • Jane Simon, M..D. in memory of “Doc” Simon (John) • Vera La Farge • Nancy Gruber • Linda Borodkin in memory of Ethel Greenwald Borodkin & Mischa Borodkin • Thomas Dooley • Saul & Felice Ehrlich. • James & Rhoda Howard •

ALBA INSTITUTE CONTRIBUTIONS
Contributor ($100 – $249)
• Ralph Nicholas • Nancy Wallach in memory of Hy Wallach • Ronald Perrone in memory of John & Ethel Perrone • Naomi Z. Cooper in memory of Sol Zalon • Robert Fitzgerald in memory of Dan Fitzgerald • Matilda Graff in memory of Saul Wellman • Nancy Phillips in memory of Paul Wendork • Michael Organek • John & Jane Brickman • Paula Gellman in memory of Isaiah Gellman • Herb Freeman in memory of Jack Freeman & Abe Smorodin • Bernice Weissbourd • Margo George • Seymour & Bernice Rosen • Dr. P.A. Freeman • Jo Labanyi • Ina Gordon & Edward Dick • Joshua Freeman in memory of Jacob Freeman • Mark S. Pecker & Elizabeth A. McGee in memory of Calman Pecker • Paul Gottlieb • Harry & Helen Staley • Norman Eisner • Sophia Sequenzia in memory of Dorothy Shtob • Carmen De Zulueta • Frederick & Ann Adams • Oliver Steinberg in memory of Congressman John T. Bernard •

Friend ($1 – $99)
• Samuel Lender • Ruth Dropkin in memory of Aaron Toder • Ada Solodkin • Luis Wainstein • Earl Harju • Daniel Berger • Paul Preuss • Jack Purdy • Carl Rosen • Geraldine S. Grant • Ruth Singer • Sarah Connally • Carl & Rose Silverman • Judith Lorne Bly • Jose I and Selma Fortoul • Robert R. Supansic in memory of Robert G. Colodny • Hela Norman • William Timpson • Bruce Laurie • Anne Canty & Victor Quintana in memory of George Harrison, friend of the ALB • Louis P. Schwartz • Lillian Henley in memory of Harry Fisher • Timothy Mitchel • Leonore & Terry Doran • Philip Heft • Norah Chase in honor of Pete Seeger • William & Katherine Sloan • Clarence Steinberg • Shaurain Farber • Henrietta Ehrenfreund • Alan Reich • David Kern • Marc Nowakowski • Louis & Evelyn Schwartz • Oliver Steinberg in memory of Congressman John T. Bernard • Marie Runyon • Emanuel & Estelle Margolis • A. Fernando & Carmen Toliver • Steven Tischler • Richard C. Sidon • Olivia Delgado de Torres in memory of Mercedes S. de Torres • Georgia Wever for the IBMT • Thomas J. Roe • Gladys Z. Berman & Herbert Molin • Joseph & Saundra Harris • Frederic & Louise La Croix • Iris & Edgar Edinger • Lewis Rubman • Dorothy Bracey • Victor Fuentas • Jose Luis Aliseda • John Andrew Anton • Marsha F. Raleigh • Kenneth Nueberger • Edith Cohen in memory of Wilfred Mendelson •

The above donations were made from November 15, 2009, through February 23, 2010. All donations made after February 23 will appear in the next print issue of The Volunteer.
Your continued support of ALBA and its important projects is so appreciated!

Martín Santangelo, the artistic director of Noche Flamenca, calls the Flamenco form “a primal scream.” The music evolved against the background of an epic tragedy in Spanish history: the expulsion of the Moors from Granada and the ensuing persecution, humiliation, and slaughter of Spanish Jews, Arabs, and Gypsies that followed. Flamenco evolved as the physical and musical expression of this horror. As historian Felix Grande writes: “If we do not relate the music . . . to brutality, repression, hunger, fear, menace, inferiority, resistance and secrecy, then we shall not find the reality of cante flamenco . . . it is a storm of exasperation and grief.”

This year Santangelo and Soledad Barrio, his wife, co-founder, and star of the troupe, recognize the resonance of this period with the terror of the Spanish Civil War and the 40 years of Franco’s brutal dictatorship. The featured piece in their program, “ALBA,” is a riveting, emotional tribute to the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, based on the poem “To the International Soldier Fallen in Spain,” by Miguel Hernandez.

“ALBA” begins with a passionate lament expressed by two guitars and two male voices, Manuel Gago (tenor) and Miguel Rosendo (baritone). The dancers enter the low-lit stage led by Soledad Barrio, the sole female performer. As she kneels beside the spot (or perhaps a grave) where a Brigader has fallen, canes are silently passed from one dancer to another down the line of grieving figures until each holds one, straight and firm, on the cold ground. Suddenly, they strike the floor in unison, and the dancers explode into action. The canes’ violent syncopations are echoed by the dancers’ traditional footwork.

In a recent interview for The Volunteer, Santangelo described the symbolism of the canes: “They are the bones of the fallen, and as the Hernandez poem ends ‘around your bones, the olive groves will grow, unfolding their iron roots in the ground, embracing men universally, faithfully.’”

As the dancers move with increasing speed and intensity, intersecting and interacting in individual percussive rhythms, their feet, the guitars, and the voices combine to sound like bullets exploding and bodies falling. The emotional moments topple over one another. Moods change unexpectedly, often separated by frozen moments of incredible tension. It is, alternately, an expression of the fury of war, courage, the resolve of freedom fighters, and the grief of a nation. Packed houses respond to the troupe’s intensity with calls of “Ole” throughout the performance and, at the conclusion, a standing ovation!
A solo by guitarist Jesus Torres, who has been with the company for many years, is a perfect, quiet and contemplative antidote to “ALBA.” In a magical moment, guitarists Salva de María and Eugenio Iglesias enter upstage and sit in the shadows, listening with the audience. Then Mr. Torres rises to leave, his hands stilled, but the music mysteriously continues. It is a seamless transition between the guitarists, which introduces the next piece, a slow, beautiful and sensual dance of love choreographed by Soledad Barrio and performed by her and Noe Barroso. Two more virtuoso dance solos, performed with enormous energy, elegance, and an attitude of defiance by Antonio Jimenez and Juan Ogalla, complete the first part of the program.

The three pieces after the intermission are just as powerful as those that come before. Each dancer is featured in equal measure with Soledad Barrio’s exquisite solo piece, eagerly awaited by the adoring crowd. The standing ovations demand a short encore, and the audiences leave the theater nearly as energized and exhausted as the performers.
Many in the audience for the three-week run were from the ALBA community. On the last day of performance in New York City, Abraham Lincoln volunteer Matti Mattson attended. Mr. Santangelo came out before the performance of “ALBA” to introduce Mattson to the audience. Amidst heads turning, gasps of surprised delight, and applause from the audience, Santangelo noted that because of Mattson and those like him who joined the Abraham Lincoln Brigade and the International Brigade, “There is a freedom in Spain. The Brigaders planted a seed of a liberty that is extraordinary.”
After New York, the troupe went on to Philadelphia, Montreal, and Toronto, where they received enthusiastic responses. For their tour schedule in other cities, visit www.nocheflamenca.com. The ALBA newsletter will keep track of Noche Flamenca’s world tour and will announce its return to New York later this year.

Fredda Weiss is Vice Chair of ALBA; Jeanne Houck is Executive Director.

Further Browsing:
Noche Flamenca Web site
New York Times Review

TO THE INTERNATIONAL SOLDIER FALLEN IN SPAIN

By Miguel Hernández

If there are men who contain a soul without frontiers
A brow scattered with universal hair
Covered with horizons, ships, and mountain chains,
With sand and with snow, then you are one of those.

Fatherlands called to you with all their banners,
So that your breath filled with beautiful movements.
You wanted to quench the thirst of panthers
And fluttered full against their abuses.

With a taste of all suns and seas,
Spain beckons you because in her you realize
your majesty like a tree that embraces a continent.

Around your bones, the olive groves will grow,
Unfolding their iron roots in the ground,
Embracing men universally, faithfully.