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HOMAGE TO FOSFORITO
Wednesday April 2nd 2001. Cordoba.
Fernando González-Caballos
The Grand Cordoba
theatre was filled to the limit for an homage to one of the greatest singers of
the twentieth century: "Fosforito". He won 16 prizes at the first National
Contest for Flamenco Arts in Cordoba in 1956 and witnessed with the rest of the
auditorium one of the most glorious nights in the history of theatrical Flamenco.
This amazing night
in the history of Flamenco opens up with none other that Chocolate, who warms
up with malagueñas and invokes an overtaking silence in the rows of spectators.
Chacón and Enrique el Mellizo come out along with Antonio Nuñez,
bringing with them a precious jabera.
Antonio Carrión's
bajañí leads in to a taranto, and Chocolate takes a trip from Almeria
to the Union. He makes it to the neighborhood of Triana with a soleá, the
Serneta savoring the taste with the echo of Joaquín from the castle of
Alcala and with fandangos (half time). But the singer still doesn't want to leave
without doing his signature martinete, carcelera and toná chica.
Menese seemes to
want to stick with the feeling, so he starts up with tonás -by Francisco-
What a level of expertise, madre mía!. There is no room for the ojana,
or for the traditional discussions. He scratches his throat singing bamberas and
peteneras with lyrics by Francisco Moreno Galván.
The temperature
rises and rises, although the best part of the show is still to come with the
soleás from Triana and the Gilica from Marchena along with seguiriyas by
Manuel Molina, Paco la Luz, Francisco La Perla, el Nitri and el Loco Mateo. Antonio
Carrión pays homage to Diego del Gastor, El Niño Ricardo and Sabicas.
The only one left
is José Mercé, who is left with no choice but to get serious and
sing flamenco.
But José didn't come here to waste time and he makes it clear from the
beginning, singing a soleá equal or better than in 1977 when he won the
Mercedes la Serneta prize.
He dedicates his
seguiriyas to Alejandra - the daughter of a friend from Pozoblanco who is very
naughty- and just the ending is worth more than gold.
Moraito, his faithful
side-kick prepares his guitar for fandangos, and Mercé pays homage to Gloria
and Agujetas, finishing off with bulerías accompanied by Luís de
la Pica, Fernando de la Morena and at the back of the stage and without a microphone
la Paquera - who sings the words with her pure style, with a few pataítas...
but the real thing.
Many nights of
Flamneco lay ahead, but only God knows how long we will have to wait to see another
one like this homage to Fosforito.
Fernando González-Caballos
Translation: Jessica Lorber
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