‘Autorretrato’ by bailaora María Pagés will open the 2009 Mont de Marsan Flamenco Festival

The French festival, which pays tribute to Carlos Saura, holds its twenty-first edition from July 6th to 11th with Cañizares, Tomasito and Pastora Galván on the bill

Flamenco-world.com, May 2009

2009 Mont de Marsan Festival. Full schedule

Already having turned twenty years old, the Mont de Marsan Flamenco Festival “turns over a new page in its history”. And it will kick off from July 6th to 11th, 2009 at different stages in the French city with a bill that will be inaugurated by Sevillian bailaora María Pagés with her latest show, ‘Autorretrato’. This edition, which pays tribute to Carlos Saura with exhibits of his photography and filmmaking work, also includes performances by artists such as guitarist Cañizares, bailaoras Pastora Galván and Fuensanta la Moneta, singer-bailaor Tomasito, and pianist Pedro Ricardo Miño. Moreover, the trio of Sevillian bailaores consisting of Rafael Campallo, Adela Campallo and Isabel Bayón will present the new show, ‘Puente de Triana’.

Cañizares (Photo Daniel Muñoz)

“Shows authentic and refreshing at the same time”. The contents of the program of the 21st Mont de Marsan Flamenco Festival are so defined. A double idea which pervades the inaugural show: ‘Autorretrato’ by María Pagés. The Sevillian bailaora’s show, already presented in Seville and Jerez, opens the French festival on July 6th at the Espace François Mitterrand.

The following three days, all with twin bills, will be situated at the Café Cantante (Singing Café). On Tuesday, July 7th, the bill is to be shared by Sevillian pianist Pedro Ricardo Miño and the bailaor pair consisting of Sevillian Manuela Ríos and Cádiz-born Juan Ogalla. On Wednesday, July 8th, the cante recital by Huelva-born Argentina will be combined with the concert ‘Origen flamenco’ by guitar maestro Cañizares. The theme on the night of Thursday, July 9th will be that of bringing together two generations of two flamenco families: on the one hand, Pastora Galván with her father José as guest artist; and on the other, the face-off between José de la Tomasa and Gabriel Pies Plomo.

Cañizares (Photo Daniel Muñoz)

There will also be a twin bill of flamenco on the fifth day of the festival. As a novelty, Granada-born bailaora Fuensanta la Moneta breaks in the recently re-opened Théâtre Municipal with ‘Lo que trae el aire’ in the early afternoon. Then at night, the spotlights will be turned on once more at the auditorium, where Sevillian bailaor Rafael Campallo, with bailaoras Adela Campallo and Isabel Bayón as guest artists, presents the show ‘Puente de Triana’. The last day, following the early-afternoon recital by bailaor Pepe Torres at the Théâtre Municipal, the now traditional closing dinner will be held at the Hall de Nauques with Tomasito in concert and a second part starring three of the maestros of the festival’s course program: Leonor Leal, Manuela Ríos and Juan Ogalla. The lineup is completed with street shows, performances by local flamenco groups at the Bodega, courses, lectures and activities related to guest of honor Carlos Saura, who will be paid tribute with a series of showings of his films on flamenco and a photo exhibit at the Musée Despiau Wlérick.

2009 Mont de Marsan Flamenco Festival Mont de Marsan (France), July 6th to 11th, 2009 Monday, July 6th Espace François Mitterrand, 9 p.m. María Pagés, ‘Autorretrato’ Tuesday, July 7th Café Cantante 7:30 p.m. Pedro Ricardo Miño, ‘Piano flamenco en concierto’ 9 p.m. Manuela Ríos & Juan Ogalla, ‘Ríos de Ogalla’ Wednesday, July 8th Café Cantante 7:30 p.m. Argentina 9 p.m. Cañizares, ‘Origen flamenco’ Thursday, July 9th Café Cantante 7:30 p.m. Pastora Galván, ‘Pastora’ (José Galván, guest artist) 9 p.m. José de la Tomasa & Gabriel Pies Plomo, ‘De la misma sangre’ Pastora Galván (Photo Daniel Muñoz) Friday, July 10th • Théâtre Municipal, 4 p.m. Fuensanta la Moneta, ‘Lo que trae el aire’ • Espace François Mitterrand, 9 p.m. Rafael Campallo, ‘Puente de Triana’ (Isabel Bayón and Adela Campallo, guest artists) Saturday, July 11th • Théâtre Municipal, 4 p.m. Pepe Torres • Hall de Nauques, ‘Dîner de clôture’. 7:30 p.m. First part. Tomasito in concert Second part. ‘Maestros’, Leonor Leal, Manuela Ríos and Juan Ogalla Tomasito (Photo Daniel Muñoz)