Dying comes if you least anticipate it. As quickly because it appears to us. We’re already lacking Txema Blasco but it surely looks like it was yesterday once we have been listening to him chuckle and make jokes for the final time, connecting one response to a different and making brilliantly humorous factors at all the pieces and everybody. His humor was innate. Pure philosophy.
Txema, you might be gone, however solely in a small half. Your wit and persona will at all times reside on amongst these of us who have been fortunate and honoured to know you. We nonetheless cannot imagine that you’re not right here, however you’ll at all times stay amongst these of us who cherished you. Since you are unimaginable to overlook.
Though he has not even had time to show 83 (he did so on July 13), Txema Blasco goes down in historical past because the quintessential Alava actor. A self-made man. In love with theatre, as an actor and director, who after a lifelong profession on the Alava levels needed to take the step to professionalism and, on the age of fifty, confronted a path filled with obstacles that introduced him as many successes as disappointments. He even turned probably the greatest supporting actors on the Spanish scene. He didn’t have it straightforward. Going to Madrid and dwelling in boarding homes with different actors reminiscent of Javier Gutiérrez or Tomás del Estal had its ups and downs, hardships and seams.
A lot of his success was as a result of his friendliness, humility and a fast thoughts that knew no bounds. He attributed this to the greater than 4,400 performances he had carried out as a clown with the Txetti Brothers, lots of them as a pair together with his inseparable Tito Aldama, who was additionally accomplice of bertsolaris like Xabier Amuriza or a member of the legendary group Hertzainak. Txetti, Italian model, with ‘Txe’ by Txema and ‘Ti’ by Tito. What a pair, as loopy as they’re good!
Lots of the performances of this duo of clowns have been selfless. Txema discovered the commerce from Ramón Jiménez ‘Zape’, the incarnation of the character Ramontxu, whom he accompanied in the future to the Leza sanatorium. The determine of the clown captivated Txema and his look turned the mischievous baby inside him, the one who climbed onto the roofs of Calle Rioja quantity 20 to carry out unimaginable balances and observe his metropolis by the eyes of somebody who had by no means seen it earlier than.
Whereas making folks chuckle, the stressed Txema Blasco excelled in his beloved theatre. He mixed this pastime with audiovisual productions that have been rising in a peripheral metropolis however looking forward to movie materials. Within the Nineteen Seventies, he took half in a 16mm manufacturing entitled ‘El sacamantecas’, directed by Del Val. His function rose in rank within the first tremendous eight movie with direct sound that was made in Vitoria-Gasteiz. It was Ramón Aguirrezabal who directed ‘El cura alavés’ in Narvaja, effectively accompanied by a big group of native filmmakers.
Txema mixed hobbies with the accounting occupation in Aranzábal and was a lynx with typing and as a course vendor at CCC. However he additionally participated in documentaries for historical past such because the Burgos trial, from 1979, directed by Imanol Uribe. Or notable movies like Tasio (Montxo Armendariz, 1984) and Alas de Mariposa, by the good Juanma Bajo Ulloa, in 1991. That was the yr by which he additionally participated in Vacas, maybe his favourite movie. After ending it and asking Julio Médem if he noticed him as knowledgeable actor, the affirmative response from the San Sebastian director reworked the lives of Txema and his household, whom he promised would by no means lack for something. And from there to being one other member of the home within the collection ‘Cuéntame’, a undeniable fact that made him identified in all Spanish properties.
Wikipedia says that as much as 103 tv collection and 82 characteristic movies have acquired his clever contributions. As a result of Txema was not a kind of who didn’t say sure to all the pieces and continually proposed options or concepts to the administrators who tried to information him. And improvisation was one in every of his fundamental strengths. That and the display cherished him. Personally, I’m left with the very best interpretation that I’ve ever seen anybody give of the knight with the unhappy determine in The Follies of Don Quixote (Rafael Alcázar, 2006). What a diction, what a approach to make actor and character coincide in the identical tone, aligned!
In his progress, what Txema actually needed was for his father to really feel pleased with him. He was in a position to show it when he found that his mom stored clippings of all his successes, articles and interviews of him. Regardless of how unfair the occupation was to him at instances, he was at all times prepared to assist anybody who wanted it. His generosity was so nice that, with out consuming or consuming it, he turned the Spanish actor who has shot probably the most quick movies. It’s troublesome to offer figures. He could have been round 200. He didn’t do it with the intention of breaking data, however with the mission of serving to new administrators who meant to supply their preliminary productions with a primary sword, somebody with expertise. Amongst them he supported the origins of Kepa Sojo, Unax Ugalde or Paul Urkijo and was at all times conscious of their evolution and progress. In addition to his beloved Patxi Bisquert and Karra Elejalde, amongst others.
Txema Blasco was, above all, a real Vitorian. He was in love with its traditions, with Alavés, Baskonia and Araski. Accompanying the lantern procession together with his beloved Virgen Blanca till his legs allowed him to was a pleasure for him. He boasted about his land wherever he went and was rewarded, even past the Pyrenees. Actually introverted however on the similar time with an overflowing persona. Genuine Vitorian, solitary, fighter, upright, type, impartial, irreducible, troublesome to regulate, shut, autonomous, good, humble, trustworthy… to the final penalties.
The Celedón de Oro in 2020 was the award that excited him probably the most. He was on the lookout for it however he was reluctant. He had doubts however he obtained it. There have been many people who celebrated it. We knew how vital it was for him. Celedones de Oro additionally devoted an unique documentary about his life to him and the publication Urrezko, directed by Jesús Prieto Mendaza. Right now we’re all a little bit extra orphaned. When our buddies die, part of us dies too.
In Alegría-Dulantzi a theatre bears his title. When will there be one in his beloved Vitoria-Gasteiz? The consequences of the vaccine prevented him from going to La Llanada this yr. However it did permit him to obtain a well-deserved tribute, accompanied by his inseparable daughter Marta, in a packed BIZAN Zaramaga, a particular place for him. And he for his folks.
The Navarrese movie director and composer Alfredo J. Espinal, creator of the quick movie Nidels, a mixture of animation and actual cinema, by which Txema is the protagonist, got here to the town. Eloy González Gavilán supported the occasion with the viewing of a choice of shorts amongst which have been “El auricular”, “Cita con la muerte”, “Posturas”, “Caminante” or “Soy algo para ti”, one of many final shorts by which he participated, directed by González Gavilán himself, a historic consultant of Alava cinema. The director from Zamora additionally directed Txema in vital documentaries for the town reminiscent of “Hace 200 años La batalla de Vitoria”, from 2013.
Two years earlier, a retrospective exhibition of posters, additionally at BIZAN Zaramaga and 5 months of screening served as a assessment of the very best performances of the good Txema Blasco on the massive and small display. Week after week he didn’t miss a single session. Till COVID-19 made an look. After a pricey restoration, he moved his life to the Sagrada Familia de Cucho residence, in Treviño, the place he has spent his final stage, supported by professionals and household.
With the reminiscence of his youngsters Marta, Oscar, Yoset and Gaizka. And his grandchildren, who have been at all times on his lips: Javier, Íñigo, Aimar, Uxue and Aiala. He additionally didn’t overlook his siblings Jesús María and Blanca in his conversations. And far much less the mom of his youngsters and life accomplice, Rosa Zuloaga, who at all times stored a watch on him. One other consumer, Visi, walked with him by the halls of the residence. Relaxation in peace TXEMA BLASCO ETXEGUREN, actor by nature, ambassador of witty humour, a real Vitorian and an excellent particular person.
