Javier Barón, Rafaela Carrasco, Belén Maya and Esperanza Fernández premiere in the series

S.C. Seville, October 9th, 2006

Seville already has another twenty flamenco days marked on the calendar. Every Thursday from November 9th, 2006 to May 17th, a new edition of Jueves Flamencos (Flamenco Thursdays) will be held at Sala Joaquín Turina. The series, organized by Fundación El Monte – the social and cultural wing of the Sevillian savings and loan -, this year offers eight premieres, most of which are baile. Bailaores Javier Barón, Rosario Toledo, Ángeles Gabaldón, María José Franco, the trio consisting of Manuel Liñán, Olga Pericet & Marcos Flores, Rafaela Carrasco and Belén Maya, plus cantaora Esperanza Fernández, will present their new shows. Moreover, confirmed maestros are to perform such as Merche Esmeralda, Manolo Sanlúcar and Tomatito, and top figures of younger flamenco such as Miguel Poveda, Mayte Martín and Miguel Ángel Cortés. The program was presented on October 9th at Seville’s 2006 Bienal.

Miguel Ángel Cortés (Photo: Daniel Muñoz)

Jueves Flamencos 2006/2007 kicks off on November 9th with Manolo Sanlúcar, who presents a review of his albums in ‘Tres tiempos para un concierto’. It continues on November 16th with Sevillian bailaora Merche Esmeralda and her show ‘Ayer, hoy y siempre’. Guitar returns on November 23rd with Niño de Pura, who as he explained, will touch on “every facet of a guitarist” in ‘Mi camino’, where El Pele performs as a guest artist, plus the participation of Rafael de Utrera and Rafael Campallo. The first premiere will be that of ‘Dos voces para un baile’ by Javier Barón, with the “excitement of gathering a group of artists which I’ve had all my life: the fundamental voices of Juan José Amador and Guadiana, plus the guitars of Alfredo Lagos and Javier Patino”.

From December to February, cante will alternate with baile and toque. Representing cante will be Miguel Poveda on December 14th, Mayte Martín on January 11th and a shared bill on February 15th between La Macanita and Ángeles Fernández. This facet will also make an appearance in its Christmas version on December 28th with the Jerez zambomba of the women from the Peña Tío José de Paula. Except for the performance by Miguel Ángel Cortés with his album ‘Bordón de trapo’, baile will steal the spotlight with performances by Antonio el Pipa (December 21st), Andrés Peña and Pilar Ogalla with ‘A fuego lento’ (January 18th), Rosario Toledo with the premiere of ‘El aire de Cádiz’ (January 25th), Ángeles Gabaldón with the premiere of ‘Volantes de jondura’ on February 8th, “a show of orthodox baile”, and ‘Errante’ by Hiniesta Cortés on February 22nd.

The program’s final stretch will come down to five premieres. ‘En clave’ is the new show which Manuel Liñán, Olga Pericet & Marcos Flores are to present on March 15th. Continuing with the presentations is Rafaela Carrasco, who premieres ‘Música para un pequeño dios’ on March 29th. A premiere by Belén Maya is also scheduled on April 12th, while María José Franco presents ‘A contracorriente’ on May 3rd. Meanwhile, cante will be taken care of in one same evening with a Cádiz accent by Juan Villar, Canela de San Roque and Antonio Reyes on March 22nd; and on toque, Tomatito will be in concert on April 19th. The series culminates with the premiere of ‘Zahorí’, a show by Esperanza Fernández and Miguel Vargas. According to the bailaora, “just as the water diviner seeks water, we seek a lovely dream in the flamenco world”.

Ángeles Fernández

magazine@flamenco-world.com