Poet Lorca's lost voice is found, says collector

An elusive Argentine collector says he has found the world's only recording of the voice of Federico Garcia Lorca, the charismatic poet shot by Franco's forces in 1936, but Spanish curators of his legacy are cautious about the claim, which they describe as "mysterious".

Roberto di Chiari has offered the Lorca Museum in Granada what he claims are unique recordings of broadcasts from the poet's hugely successful six-month tour of Argentina in the 1930s. But experts find it strange that no one has been permitted to hear the tapes, and are seeking verification.

"There have long been rumours of the existence of recordings in Buenos Aires, where the poet lived in 1933 and 1934. But we don't understand why this gentleman doesn't let surviving relatives or friends listen to the recordings, and we could tell instantly whether they were genuine or not," said Juan de Loxa, director of the museum at Fuente Vaqueros, the poet's birthplace.

Mr Loxa said he would be "delighted" if the "extraordinary find" were genuine. The museum has transcripts of all Lorca's broadcasts in his own hand – " because he was very meticulous and never improvised his words" – but no recording of his voice.

Mr di Chiari said that the broadcasts by Argentina's Radio Splendid and Radio Prieto are preserved on ancient wax cylinders and wire tapes, and cannot be transcribed until they have been restored. They apparently contain comments by Lorca on bullfighting, and on actors and critics of his time.

"Lorca's radio broadcasts could be very amusing," said Mr Loxa. "He sings and plays the piano, and gives impressions of how contemporary actors and critics snored. Imagine hearing that! We would pay for the finest sound technicians to restore the recordings. But Mr Chiari is being mysterious, and hasn't convinced us he really has the material." The Argentine has not asked the museum for money, but at the same time boasts of big offers received from British, American and Japanese collectors.

"He seems to be playing cat and mouse with us. It's all very strange," said the curator.