Paco de Lucía, Tomatito, Javier Latorre, Raimundo Amador and Antonio Canales, among others, provide the flamenco touch at the festival to be held in July 2004

Flamenco-world.com, May 2004

Who better than Paco de Lucía and Tomatito could represent flamenco guitar at the 2004 Córdoba Guitar Festival. The Algeciras-born guitarist presents ‘Cositas buenas’ on July 10th at the Alcázar Gardens, while the Almería-born artist inaugurates the event on July 5th at the Great Theater with ‘Sonanta Suite’, together with the Córdoba Orchestra and conducted by Joan Albert Amargós.

Paco de Lucía in DVD "Directo Alemania 1996"

As is becoming usual, flamenco dancing plays a relevant role together with the guitar. In this edition it comes by the hand of Javier Latorre, who premieres ‘Triana. En nombre de La Rosa’ on Wednesday, July 7th at the Great Theater; by Antonio Canales, who presents his new ‘Carmen, Carmela’ with Lola Greco on July 12th and 13th, also at the city's coliseum; and by the trio formed by Aida Gómez, Paco Mora and Igor Yebra which premieres the Andalusian symphony musical ‘Walada’ on July 15th at the Alcázar Gardens.

	Antonio Canales (photo: Daniel Muñoz)

Moreover, the flamenco close to other types of music such as blues, rock and pop will be represented by Raimundo Amador, who plays on Friday, July 9th at the Alcázar Gardens; and by Queco, who offers the live version of ‘Tengo’ July 8th on the same stage.

Flamenco will also have great weight in the related activities, especially the figure of Paco de Lucía. Conferences on the study of guitar history are fully dedicated to the toque maestro and will take place at the Palacio de Congresos. Norberto Torres will take charge of the technical side on July 8th; Juan José Téllez of the biographical on the 9th; and both, together with Félix Grande and Faustino Núñez, will hold a round-table on the artist on the 10th. There will also be an audiovisual exhibit on the guitarist and two presentations dedicated to his work: that of the book ‘Paco de Lucía en vivo’ de Juan José Téllez (‘Paco de Lucía Live, by Juan José Téllez’); and that of the sheet music book ‘La fabulosa guitarra de Paco de Lucía’ (‘Paco de Lucía's Fabulous Guitar’).

But there isn't just flamenco. The festival also focuses its attention on classical guitar and other musical styles. In fact, there is room in its program for, among many other musicians, from Bob Dylan to Eliades Ochoa, with Manuel Berrueco and Al di Meola, Javier Riba and the Havana String Quartet in between, as well as Joan Manuel Serrat, who closes the festival with his new symphony concert.

magazine@flamenco-world.com

Flamenco at the 2004 Córdoba Guitar Festival Córdoba (Spain), from July 5th to 17th, 2004 Monday, July 5th Great Theater (9 p.m.) Tomatito / Córdoba Orchestra ‘Sonanta Suite’ Conductor: Joan Albert Amargós Wednesday, July 7th Great Theater (9 p.m.) Javier Latorre and Dance Company ‘Triana. En Nombre De La Rosa’ (absolute premiere) Thursday, July 8th Alcázar Gardens (11 p.m.) Manuel Ruiz, Queco ‘Tengo’ Friday, July 9th Alcázar Gardens (11 p.m.) Raimundo Amador Saturday, July 10th Alcázar Gardens (11 p.m.) Paco de Lucía ‘Cositas Buenas’ Monday, July 12th and Tuesday, July 13th Great Theater (9 p.m.) ‘Carmen, Carmela’ Antonio Canales, Lola Greco, Diego Llori Director: Miguel Narros Thursday, July 15th Alcázar Gardens (11 p.m.) ‘Walada. El sueño de un poeta cordobés’ (‘Walada. The Dream of a Cordovan Poet’) (absolute premiere) Performed by the group Qurtuba Guest artists: Aida Gómez, Igor Yebra and Paco Mora