Relatives, artists and hundreds of admirers said this Friday, November 11, their last goodbye to the singer Gal Costa, an icon of Brazilian and universal popular music.
Her coffin rested on a red carpet at the main entrance of the São Paulo Legislative Assembly building as hundreds of admirers paraded to leave flowers and say goodbye to the artist.
Gal Costa’s son, Gabriel, 17, was one of the first members of the family to arrive at the wake. He sat next to his mother’s coffin, next to Wilma Petrillo, the artist’s manager. Minutes later he received Sophie Charlotte, who plays Gal Costa in my name is Gal, biopic which will be released in March next year.
The posters carried by the public were placed at the foot of the coffin. Around 2 pm, a fan started singing one of his songs and everyone present joined in the singing. He then he said: «You always sang to us and now we are going to sing to you. Go with God, my diva!” said one.
The coffin, covered by the flags of Bahia and São Paulo, left for the Carmo Third Order Cemetery, in Consolação, for a burial limited to family and closest friends.
Gal Costa passed away on the morning of Wednesday, November 9 at the age of 77. His publicist said he died at his home, but the cause of death has not been released.
The artist was absent from the stage to recover from a surgery that was carried out in September on her right nostril. She canceled at the last minute her participation in the Primavera Sound festival, in São Paulo, last weekend.
Born in Salvador de Bahia and recognized for her unique voice, long hair and charismatic smile, Gal Costa was one of the main figures of the tropicalista movement in the late 1960s, along with other legendary singers such as Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso. .
