Sabatini 2005. ‘Alreó de la fragua’ (‘Around the Forge’). In the time it takes to shape a horseshoe in the forge, there is room for four batches of martinetes. Gordo de Jerez, the blacksmith. Rancapino, from the deepest jondo. Juan José Amador, crystal-clear cante. Vicente Soto, steadiness, red hot. A voice in off which turns the foundry work into poetry separates each chapter of unaccompanied cante, just with the rhythm of the (real) hammering on the anvil. The lit forge on stage helps fight the chilly air of a night threatening with rain. On to the stand. Bulería with everyone together. The orchestra comes in with impressive sound. On guitars, Antonio Carrión and Eduardo Rebollar. A mixture of styles with the mark of Jerez. Gordo de Jerez does the minera. Juan José Amador sings tangos. Rancapino squeezes out all the sweetness that fits in his throat, through malagueñas... slow, delicate, lovely. And Sordera's son closes the round with tientos. Time for soleá adorned with female baile. And finally, Rancapino through alegrías, urged on by Vicente Soto, delighted by the wise art of the Cádiz-born maestro. How sweet. How soft. The pupil takes over with seguiriyas dedicated to Chocolate. Mora verde for the grief. Bulerías. Chuflas. Compás. La Tarara. And a little bulería dance before withdrawing. What a good night of cante.
Text: S. C. Madrid, August 10th, 2005

More information: Flamenco at the Sabatini Gardens 2005. Ginesa Ortega Madrid's Sabatini Gardens Flamenco Series doubles up its program for summer 2005