Guitar, artistic and musical director: Francisco Javier Jimeno. Cante: Eva Durán, Ana Fargas, Gitanillo de Vélez and Cancanilla de Marbella. Dance: Luisa Chicano, Antonio Perujo and Antonio de Verónica. Violin: Lorenzo Triviño. Bass: Juan Carlos Baca. Percussion: Chico Fargas. Verses: Ana Fargas, Andrés Jiménez Díaz, Carmen Aguirre, Francisco Roldán, Francisco Padilla Robles, Luis Antonio Utrera y Mariví Verdú.

Text: Rubén Gutierrez
Photos: Málaga en Flamenco (Álvaro Cabrera)

HONORING THE ARTS

The majestic Teatro Cervantes in Málaga opened its doors to flamenco once again, this time for musicians and poets native to Málaga. The verses written by authors from this lovely Mediterranean province were chosen by poetess Marivi Verdú under the influence of the moon that shone that night on the sea.

The evening begins with zambra so dancer Luisa Chicano and singer Ana Fargas may introduce us into the poetry, well backed-up by strings. Next, a granaína interpreted by Gitanillo de Vélez, a veteran local singer for whom time has not passed in vain. Then, fandangos de Huelva for Eva Durán, and again the dancing of Luisa with soleá, and the cante of the man from Vélez. The six strings echo melodies of Ana’s petenera, and Jimeno’s guitar looks toward the city of Córdoba for alegrías of that city. All the pieces follow one after another without pause, which makes the production all the more dynamic. Malagueña and abandolao were inevitable, once again with Gitanillo, which led to one of the best flamenco singers born in this province in the last century. We’re talking about Cancanilla de Marbella, who uses martinete as a presentation, and then raises gooseflesh with siguiriyas. He closes out the first part with his “bulería pa’ escuchar”. This singer could easily have had a greater presence in the Bienal.

After intermission, Chico Fargas’ solo to allow Antonio Perujo to strike elegant poses in a dance that was halfway between old-style and contemporary. The musicians take over with an instrumental rumba sounding of Paco de Lucía, and Eva Durán returns to the stage to sing tarantos and mineras. Afterwards, Gitanillo alludes to the neighborhoods of Málaga, in particular the very flamenco area of Perchel, with alegrías, and another young dancer, Antonio de Verónica, dances to bamberas, though it might just as well have been bulerías. Fantasía flamenca for Ana Fargas is the name of the following piece, and it sounded like cuplé por bulerías. The whole company wrapped things up with tangos using verses of verdiales in a choreography with the three dancers. Although the audience clapped rhythmically at the end, it didn’t quite come together despite these lovely verses.

Alone with the full moon
I see the waves on the sea
you are of sea and stars
to light my way

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Special MÁLAGA EN FLAMENCO