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Young
Performers Contest III
Lope
de Vega Theatre.
Tuesday, October 3rd, 9:30 PM
LONG
HAIR AND SMOOTH BEARDLESS FACES
Juan José Martínez Pantoja
The
favor slim for the singers, compared to the competing guitarists. However the
singers used good guitar players, and experienced long curly hair that touched
their shoulders.
The first to come
out was Santiago Lara and, in contrast with the previous day, the guitarist started
off with a surefooted granaína (and he’s only 16!), but he started
stumbling on "Caminito de Totana" with his brother singing and he lost
his step with bulerías from Jerez – rhythmic issues.
The
dappling continued with a guitarist wearing glasses: Malaga based Juan José
Martínez Pantoja, four-time winner of second place from La Unión,
who started with tarantos. Rocío Alcalá sang malagueñas
and alegrías with an overpowering voice that at times covered up
the guitar.
Miguel Ortega
Singing
alegrías Miguel Ortega, singer from Los Palacios (Seville) continued,
and although his potent strength lacks feeling, the soleá can’t
be denied (he won the prize this summer at La Unión). An excess
of voice for the seguiriya, with ample understanding, he said goodbye to
the tune of El Planeta: "To the moon I ask, she of the high heavens"
("A la luna le pido, la del alto cielo…")
Manolito
Herrera accompanied Ortega on guitar and Rafalito backed up Juan Diego Mateo giving
him a lesson on good accompaniment; the singer left without sitting for martinete
or toná, continued with a well baked soleá from Alcalá
and threw in bulerías Lebrija and Utrera, without getting
too crazy with his already personal touch; a reminder of his input in "Medea",
with Fernando Terremoto and David Lagos.
Miguel Vargas
To finish off,
the only dancer of the night. His brother in law, Curro Fernández played
with Enrique el Extremeño and Juan José Amador: Miguel Vargas took
advantage the fact that he closely followed these grand singers, bringing in a
modern and affected seguiriya - and not only because of that (or for being
the husband of Esperanza), but for the touch of guitarist, Rafael Rodríguez
"El Cabeza", who permitted him a more lucid dance.
Luis Clemente
Translated
by Jessica Lorber
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