Interview with Rafael Riqueni, flamenco guitarist

The
guitarist Rafael Riqueni has picked up the reins of his career
after overcoming some serious health problems. He began by
accompanying Carmen Linares in several recitals, and after
reappearing, gave his first solo concert where he played pieces
from his record: «Maestros» in which he interpreted
compositions by Sabicas, Niño Ricardo and Esteban Sanlúcar
among others. A recital he is now repeating in a Madrid studio
– intimate concerts for small groups of flamenco fans who
wish to see, or rather hear, how his music sounds coming directly
from the strings of his guitar: «thank God that after
nearly seven years away from the performing ambience due to
health reasons, I can now once again go up on stage, do my
music and be with the audience, which is what I've always
done, and what I was born to do». In the first performance
within this series of concerts some of his professional colleagues
such as José Menese and Pepe Habichuela were notably
present. The support of fellow-artists has been very important
for him and each contributed in his or her way at the tribute
that was organized for him in April of 2002 in order to raise
the necessary funds to help him overcome his illness: «without
them I would never have been cured, they did a two-day benefit
concert here in Madrid with the top flamenco stars and I am
very grateful, because with that money I was able to go to
a clinic in Málaga for six months where I recovered».

Riqueni is now taking things one step at
a time, and playing pieces from the great guitarists of the
past is his favorite pastime: «it seems like flamenco
guitarists all want to be composers and I think it's very
important to be familiar with the legacy of those who went
before and then, of course, play whatever music you feel like
playing. I'm playing this material live now for a number of
reasons. I just got out of the hospital a short time ago,
in September of last year, and in these few months I've only
had enough time to prepare this repertoire and start composing,
but gradually, because I'm going through a stage in which
it takes longer to compose, maybe because I'm not in any hurry,
because time has taken on a different dimension and you see
things from a different perspective, but in fact some things
are coming out. I take it very slowly, preparing physically
and mentally to interpret these maestros' pieces, takes many
hours out of each day».

«…I'm not in any hurry
to compose because time has taken on a different dimension
and you see things from a different perspective»

Rafael Riqueni is known for being an artist who opened up
new paths in music with both his flamenco and classical compositions,
areas he likes to differentiate: «I always try to be
perfectly clear. Music is music and as such contains all the
ingredients, and each piece requires adequate expression».
But in all the original material contained in six records,
some no longer available on the market, there is a constant
searching, and to make a mark in today's flamenco guitar scene
is no easy task: «it's hard because the ideas dry up
and I've already made six records, almost one per year, I
was younger too, ideas came more easily, and now I discover
that composers also go through identity crises, when you don't
like your own work, and those are difficult moments, and you
have to keep plugging away, because sometimes, just when you
want it to come, it doesn't». However the guitarist from
Seville hasn't lost the desire to keep on broadening his legacy
in the field of composition: «I want to keep creating,
but I might be a little burnt out, we musicians work mostly
with our minds, we have to be thinking about music continuously,
and your mind also gets tired…these last years while I've
been away from the artistic world what I have been doing is
compose, a few things…amazing things have come out for chamber
group which will eventually be made public, a classical string
quartet without guitar, and now I still feel a little lost,
I have to deal with my life, the city, my son, the friends
who surround me, and that all takes time».

«the guitar is very important
for me, and what I teach students took me a long time to learn»

This is a time in which Riqueni isn't closed to anything,
especially playing for cante, which he always considered very
important: «I also consider myself an accompanist for
cante, I learned to play flamenco in fiestas as a child, playing
for my father and I really liked cante a lot, so playing for
singers is a path I do not plan to abandon». He is also
offering his musical expertise to those who wish to learn
from his art. «The reason I give classes is because this
year is more for making contact with the artistic world, not
a year of much work, and since I'm not traveling nor giving
many concerts within Spain, although next year I do have a
tour of Spain, things are a little calm right now so I ran
an ad and I'm giving private classes at my house, which makes
me very happy, students call, they keep coming… Now when
they open the new Amor de Dios studios in the Antón
Martín market, I'll be guitar teacher in the morning,
a job I enjoy, I like seeing how my students keep improving
and learning». For these classes it's not the students'
level that most concerns him: «the other day a boy called
saying he had a low level and asking if I would accept him,
so I told him yes, because I think there's something very
important that students have to learn, I've never been a person
devoted to teaching guitar, I've given international workshops
at festivals, but not private classes at home, and now that
I'm doing it, all I ask students is that they show respect,
in the sense that the guitar is very important for me, and
that what I teach them took me a long time to learn. I ask
that they show interest and that I be able to see that they
improve, nothing more. I'm no dictator and I consider these
people my friends, individuals who stimulate my interest,
but as far as I'm concerned, the most important thing is that
they progress and take my teaching seriously».

«There's a very high level,
which makes it even harder, but it's great that there's this
level»

Now people are learning from him, just as he learned from
other maestros: «Don Ramón Montoya was a revolutionary
in flamenco, during a time when there was hardly anything,
the way he familiarized himself with the world of classical
guitar and adapted it to flamenco set off a great revolution;
later on it was Sabicas and Niño Ricardo who are also
from Montoya's school and were revolutionaries in their own
right and in their respective eras, then the modern era which
preceded me, Paco de Lucía, Manolo Sanlúcar
and Serranito are the ones who contributed the most to guitar,
then another generation comes up, and another, and another,
and that's how it goes». Which is why Rafael is getting
updated regards the latest generation. «Since I hadn't
been able to hear what people were doing, the other day a
friend lent me ten or twelve compact discs of guitar, and
I listened to all of them…there are some things I like more
than others, but what is clear is that there's a very high
level which makes it even harder when it comes to preparing
a recording, but it's great that there's this level».
And also great that Rafael is already thinking about making
a new record: «yes, I'm getting material together, I
have a few finished pieces already, I'm looking for ideas
and we'll see if next year I can get into the studio»,
work which forms part of this new stage in the artist's life.
«Yes, I do believe it's a new stage, I'm full of hope,
anxious to give recitals, do different things, recordings,
and also reestablish contact with my audience».

Sonia Martínez Pariente
smpariente@deflamenco.com

Photos: Rafael Manjavacas

Translated by: Estela
Zatania

Management Rafael Riqueni: Flamenco
de Hoy, S.L.