Un Siècle de Tango -
Paris Buenos Aires

Paris Metropole 'Scene' Launches
With Happy Toes

Paris:- Saturday, 3. October 1998:- The information about 100 Years of Tango came by a roundabout route. It went from Paris to California and back to me. Doubt came with it - 'Is it too trivial?' - and the answer is no because Paris is gripped in a non-stop frenzy of Latin dancing.

My hesitant source wrote, "Many people may not be aware of the connections between Tango and Paris, or that Carlos Gardel - the 'Caruso' of tango - was born in Toulouse; immigrated with his mother at age four to Argentina, and returned in 'triumph' at the height of his career, to Paris."

So, relatively unnoticed, with no posters, 35 international days of Tango in Paris started last night at the Webbar.

I'm behind with this, so here is the first week's program, starting with Monday:

Monday, 5. October: at 19:30, 'Le Tango en Uruguay' - with the presence of the Ambassador of Uruguay, Miguel Angel Semino. At 20:00; Carmen et Victor dance 'La Cumparsita.' At 20:30; the duo 'Marino Riveiro - Gabriela Diaz' perform and at 21:30 the evening ends with songs by Giovanna and a presentation of the comparsa by Yorugua de Mirtha Pozzi et Pablo Cueco. There is also an exhibition of photos by Pedro Lombardi.
At the Espace Kiron, 10. rue de la Vacquerie, Paris 11. Métro: Voltaire. Info. Tel.: 01 44 64 11 50.

Tuesday, 6. October: starting from 18:00 the festivities begin with the 70th anniversary of the founding of the 'Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris' with a presentation of the book, 'La Casa Argentina en Paris 1928-1998,' edited by the Minister of Culture and Education of Argentina. Music with 'Che, Tango!' Argentinean movies from the days of silent films and exhibitions. At the Fondation Argentine, Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris.

Wednesday, 7. October: the evening is called 'Cortazar de retour' and at 20:00 there will be a showing of the film, 'Diario para un cuento' by Jana Bokova; drawn from the memories of the writer, Julio Cortazar, who lived at the Fondation Argentine in 1951.

Thursday, 8. October: at 20:30: 'Concert Tango,' with the grand orchestra, directed by Juan Josi Mosalini. At the Vidiothèque de Paris. From 21:00 to 23:00: 'Jueves de Tango' - which is a 'bal' and tango exhibition; at the Fondation Argentine, Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris.

Friday, 9. October: at 14:30, within the framework of 'Le Paris des Argentins,' the presentation of 'Les Trottoirs de Saturne' by Hugo Santiago. At 16:30, 'Les Autres' by Hugo Santiago. At 19:00, 'La Pavane de Berthe Tripat' by Jean Francois Lopes and 'Julio Cortazar' by Alan Caroff and Claude Namer. Finally, at 21:00; 'Tangos, Premiere Exil de Gardel' by Francisco Solanas. All at the Vidéothèque de Paris at the Forum des Halles.

Saturday, 10. October is a repeat of Friday's program.

Sunday, 11. October: 'Tango 50 x 70' - featuring the Grand Orchestre National d'Argentine - which is celebrating its 50 years of existence - directed by Osvaldo Piro. At the Fondation Argentine, Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris.

The text I received was somewhat scrambled, so I hope there are not too many mistakes. For more information, call Claude Namer at 01 48 87 74 23 or fax to: 01 48 87 66 50. The rest of the program continues next week.

As happens two or three times a year, the group of modern art galleries in the rue Louise-Weiss co-ordinate a joint exhibition and the current one lasts until Saturday, 17. October. The photograph by Matthias Herrmann above - for Tango? - has no title, but is on view at the Galerie Praz-Delevallade, 28. rue Louise-Weiss. The other galleries are grouped here. Paris 13. Métro Chevaleret.

The 'FIAC' and the Grande Marché de l'Art both start on Tuesday, 7. October and both end on 12. October. The first is having its 25th edition and I think features art dealers showing off their artists. The second, with its 20th edition, features artists who have rented stands to show off their works themselves. The two exhibitions do not see exactly eye-to-eye in other words.
FIAC, Espace Eiffel-Branley, Paris 7. Hours are generally from noon to 20:00, except Sundays when it starts at 10:00 and Monday, 12. October when the times are 12:00 to 18:00.
The Grande Marché de l'Art is located in the foyer of the Grande Arche at La Défense. Métro: last stop on line one, at the Grande Arche. Daily from 11:00 to 20:00, and Friday and Saturday, 9. and 10. October, until 22:00. Two hundred artists will be taking part in this show.

In a show of paintings done from 1935 to 1998, Pierre Wemaëre 'embraces color;' until Sunday, 18. October. This exhibition can be seen at the Convent des Cordeliers, 15. rue de l'Ecole-de-Médecine, Paris 6. Métro: Odéon. Except Mondays, open daily from 11:00 to 19:00.

This is also known at 'Bronzes du Musée de Shanghai' - plus there is a mention that the museum where it is being shown is having its 100th anniversary. I do not know Chinese stuff at all, but judging from the length of this expo, this is important stuff that you would otherwise have to travel to Shanghai to see.
Musée Cernuschi
7. avenue Vélasquez, Paris 8. Until 10. January 1999. Open daily except Mondays, from 10:00 to 17:40. Métro: Villiers.

One word is enough for this exhibition of works by the painters and sculptors of central Africa. There are 240 pieces on display, many seen here for the first time; many coming from European collections.
Musée National des Arts d'Afrique et d'Océanie
293. avenue Daumesnil, Paris 12. Métro: porte Dorée. Until 4. January 1999. Open, except Tuesdays, from 10:00 to 17:30; until 18:00 on weekends. Info. Tel.: 01 43 46 51 61.

For the occasion of the reopening of its south wing, this museum is presenting two major 17th century works: 'Salomé Recevant la Tête de Saint Jean-Baptiste' by Caravage and 'Le Temps Calme' by Poussin. One comes from the London's National Gallery and the other is from the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. These two match the Rouen museum's own 'Christ à la Colonne' by Caravage and 'L'Orage' by Poussin.

The autumn exhibition is also the occasion to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of Marcel Duchamp, who came from Blainville-Crevon, near Rouen. Duchamp's 'La Boîte-en-Valise,' a 'portable' museum, is on show.

Musée des Beaux Arts
Square Verdrel, Rouen. Open, except Tuesdays, from 10:00 to 18:00. Info. Tel.: 02 35 71 28 40.

The Big Shows

It is for you to decide whether Gustave Moreau hated women or not, and a good place to start with this question is at the current exhibition. Moreau was a symbolist painter so there may be no easy answer.

Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais
Until 4. January 1999. Entry Clemencéau. Info. Tel.: 01 44 13 17 17. Moreau donated his residence to the city or the state in 1897 and this began as the Musée Gustave Moreau in January 1903. In 1991 it was opened to the public, which has paid it scant attention. This museum-residence is at 14. rue de la Rochefoucauld, Paris 9. Info. Tel.: 01 48 74 38 50.

Paris' Italian autumn has already started, with paintings by Tintoretto, 13 on loan from Venice and the others from French collections, being displayed in the Salle des Fëtes in the Mairie of the 5th. At 21. place du Panthéon, Paris 5. Open Monday to Saturday from 11:00 to 17:45 and on Sundays and holidays from 14:00 to 17:45. Info. Tel.: 01 43 29 21 75.