Madrid's summer flamenco event is now in full swing. Next to the Royal Palace, amidst pine trees and with the sky as its ceiling, the Sabatini Gardens Flamenco Series is being held from August 2nd to 13th, 2005. Opening on stage - which this year inexplicably has the palace's prodigious natural scenery covered up -, were two twin bills: cantaoras La Tana and Montse Cortés, on Tuesday; and cantaor Segundo Falcón and bailaora Paz Lucena, on Wednesday. The first to have a solo performance was Ginesa Ortega, on Thursday, August 4th. The cantaora split her performance into two parts: the first with traditional flamenco cantes, and the second in which she also hops on the copla and bolero bandwagon, along with a piano. Accompanied on guitar by Juan Ramón Caro - a regular of Mayte Martín's band -, she went back over the legacy of all-time maestros, from Pinini to Camarón. It wasn't a warm concert; the set-up with tables and drinks hardly allowing it, but Ginesa Ortega made an effort to communicate. She sang soleares, levante, cantiñas, tientos-tangos, and dedicated to Chocolate those fandangos Enrique Morente did for Camarón de la Isla and which vindicate freedom. “Ni que me manden a mí, no quiero mandar en nadie” (“I don't want to be ordered around, or to order anyone else around”).
(Text: S.C., August 4th, 2005)

More information: Madrid's Sabatini Gardens Flamenco Series doubles up its program for summer 2005 Interview with Ginesa Ortega, cantaora (January, 2003)