Text: Rubén Gutierrez
Photos: Málaga en Flamenco (Carlos Díaz Martín)

YOUTHFUL DREAMS

Each of the concert series that made up this edition of Málaga en Flamenco is reaching a conclusion. The last installment of a series that brought together artists born after 1980, included 37 young hopefuls, some of them already a reality. The theater in the capital of the Costa del Sol had a full house for the occasion.

It was yet another example of the level of young talent in dance, cante and guitar, although the latter was the most outstanding of the evening. On the one hand, Manuel de la Luz, from Huelva, accompanied by El Buho on flute and saz, and Pájaro on percussion, offered two high-flying numbers, fandangos and bulerías. The big draw of the night would come afterwards. Enrique Morente Junior and Juan Habichuela Nieto (grandson). The latter amply demonstrated his genetic makeup, and the young man from Albayzín chose a difficult repertoire for his debut in a major flamenco festival. Granaína and bulerías, Morente style, showed that Kiki is a flamenco-lover and is on the right track, but that track has many obstacles and it takes a lot of effort to overcome them.

Nazaret Cala from El Puerto put the feminine touch with her voice, accompanied by Jerez guitarist Fernando Moreno for soleá and cantiñas. Next up, two young artists from Málaga, Fátima and Moisés Navarro, with singer Guadiana in great form, in addition to Genara singing, Curro de María, Gaspar and Luis Santiago on guitar, Juanico, Sarai and Rocío Navarro on compás, and the percussion of Antón. A duet of tangos de la Repompa was ended by Fátima and Extremadura styles. Guadiana’s bulerías, excellent, and the first part ended with siguiriyas and the Farruco-style dancing of Moisés.

Thirty-seven young hopefuls, some of them already a reality

After intermission, another solid guitarist, David Carmona, not related to the Habichuelas. With soleá and taranta he proved he is one of Manolo Sanlúcar’s most interesting students. And then some cante with Ríos Cabrillana. He was surprising with malagueña and fandangos, and a sweet clean voice that was well-accompanied by Paco Jimeno on guitar. Málaga can well boast of another young talent in the making, and in the friendly face-off with Rubito hijo, the former came out on top. The singer from Paradas, although accompanied by one of the best guitarists in the business, Antonio Carrión, was very nervous and his siguiriyas didn’t come together, nor the fandangos, possibly due to his rather plain voice.

Alter more than two long hours, it was the turn of dancer Encarna López. The Córdoba native exhibited good academic technical preparation, but fell short in choreography and seemed to lack sufficient rehearsal. She chose a dificult repertoire with marianas and polo, but the lack of rapport with singers David Lagos and Antonio Campos, and guitarists Niño Seve and Juan el Tomate, only left room to admire her armwork. Not all the artists participated in the fiesta finale which also left a lot to be desired.

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