María la Tero, July 2005

That classical music should be inspired by grass-roots culture is no novelty. Nor is it that it should be inspired by flamenco. What is new is the happy encounter between a classical violin virtuoso who has not been able to do without his tradition, Ara Malikian, and a flamenco guitarist, José Luis Montón, who did not want to miss the chance to explore other sounds either. It already happened in ‘Manantial’, an album of astounding beauty which was recently re-released with a new cover... perhaps for having wrongly gone a little unnoticed. The new record ‘De la felicidad’ is the continuation of the path undertaken in the previous one, the fruit of a cordial entente in which the priorities are musical freedom and feeling.

Unlike ‘Manantial’, ‘De la felicidad’ opens up the stylistic range to take in, along with flamenco, other types of grass-roots music such as fado, with a version of ‘Estranha forma de vida’ by Amalia Rodrigues; and the tango, with a recreation of ‘La muerte del ángel’ by Astor Piazzola. And without forgetting the Spanish copla, the violin and guitar daring to get tangled up in the passionate ‘Pena, penita, pena’ by Quintero, León and Quiroga. Grass-roots classical music has two examples. On the one hand, ‘Zapateao’ by Sarasate (Malikian's guru), which closes the repertoire. And on the other hand, ‘Quise volverme loco’, based on a concert for violin by composer Aram Khatchaturian.

Among these re-performed songs on loan - with the collaboration of contrabass player Miguel Rodriguañez, percussionist Jorge Tejerino and concertina player Fabián Carbone - compositions are inserted which have been created together by Ara Malikian and José Luis Montón, with fine flamenco touches in the way of underground rhythms such as that of the bulería, soleá and guajira, and in the way of attitude, attack, soul. The Catalan guitarist also contributes two ballads, ‘Princesa’ and ‘Contigo’, in which the toque brims over with virtuosity, distinction and sweetness.

Literature acts as a complement to the music, since being inspired by each track, Marisol Rozo has made up a mini-story included in the libretto in Spanish and English. Fantasy, feeling, love, dream, characters... intertwine with the notes coming out of the heart and the instruments of two musicians “who made up a new voice together”.

More information:

Interview with Ara Malikian, violinist (June, 2005)