Nuevo Ballet Español. “Romeo y Julieta” Villamarta Theater, Jerez de la Frontera. Sunday, March 7th, 2004. 9:00pm

Dance: Ángel Rojas, Carlos Rodríguez, Jesús Carmona, Iván Martín, Mayte Bajo, Cristina de Vega, Gemma Morado, Mara Rey, Esther Esteban. Guest artist: Chevi Muraday. Guitar: Gaspar Rodríguez, Antonio Rey. Violonchelo: Nicasio Moreno. Flute: Elisa de la Torre. Percussion: Sudhi. Cante: Mara Rey. Juan Suárez. Piano: Pablo Suárez. Choreography: Carlos Rodríguez. Arrangements and music director: Pablo Suárez. Script: Guillermo Pisani, Carlos Rodríguez.

Of the various parallel activities included in the Festival de Jerez, the series called “Gloria pura” offered at the Museo Taurino has a lot going for it. The chance to hear good cante and guitar by top professionals in a charming and intimate setting, without amplification or crowds, complimentary sherry included is...”gloria pura” (‘sheer heaven’). On Sunday, singer Fernando de la Morena delighted a truly international audience speaking to them in his own peculiar language, eyes wide open as is his custom, por soleá, fandangos, siguiriya, taranto and bulerías with Antonio Carrasco accompanying.

Angel Rojas

Over at the Villamarta Theater, finally a well-conceived work with flamenco dance and song, coherent music and apt staging at the service of the presentation. Part of the merit, without a doubt, can be attributed to William Shakespeare, but the constant sprinkling of applause, never merely polite, was exclusively for this youthful group.

An entertaining tragedy without pretensions.

The non-flamenco music blended perfectly with the flamenco, the modern dance segments were not annoying and the wild dance of the monk who gives Juliet the potion, complements the magic contained in the little bottle.

Refreshing alegrías by three men and a down-home fiesta por bulería. The tense confrontation between the two families is well-represented with siguiriyas and the illusion of Juliet’s spirit rising from her sleeping body to dance with a dying Romeo is beautiful.

Special mention for Mara Rey for her warm natural voice, her good flamenco dancing and the ease with which she interpreted a man’s part without surrendering her female identity.

You know it went down as flamenco when the audience asks for a bulerías finale in the last bow. An entertaining tragedy without pretensions.

A more conventional type of flamenco of high quality was presented afterwards at the Sala de la Compañía by Rafael Campallo with a dream team that included his sister, dancer Adela Campallo and the singing of two of today’s best young cantaores, José Valencia and David Lagos. At the peña Sordera later on, we were treated to more first-class flamenco singing with Joaquín el Zambo.

Bulerías finale at the Museo Taurino

Text : Estela Zatania

Theater Villamarta Program
De Peña en Peña Program: Trasnoches, De Peñas, Peña de Guardia
Other shows(Gloria Pura, Bordón y cuenta nueva, De la Frontera, Café Cantante, Sólos en Compañía)
Courses and workshops

All Reviews