Interview with Rosario Montoya 'La Reina Gitana'. Flamenco Piano

She was born in Jerez 26 years ago into
a pure gypsy family with a long flamenco tradition.
After finishing classical piano studies at the
Cádiz Conservatorio de Música, she
applied everything she’d learned to the
world of ‘flamenco piano’ and becoming
the only woman concertiste of the genre with a
show where flamenco, in all its splendor, is interpreted
from a completely original and elegant perspective.
She composed and arranged all the pieces herself.
In this interview Rosario Montoya speaks about
the relevance of flamenco for Spanish and Andalusian
tourism.

Real Audio.

Flamenco: Black & White

What does flamenco
represent for tourism in Andalusia?
Flamenco is one of the most important elements
that draw tourists to Spain. In particular, Jerez
de la Frontera, where I was born and live, we
have three things that make our city a magical
destination for anyone from abroad: horses, wine
and flamenco.

How would you assess
the current state of flamenco?
Thanks to geniuses like Camarón or Paco
de Lucía, flamenco has reached large international
theaters which had never before seen this type
of show. Nowadays flamenco is considered one of
the most important musical cultures and it has
gone from being a minority music, to appear on
the programs of the most prestigious auditoriums
of the world.

You are the only woman
soloist in this field, what difficulties would
you say you’ve had to get where you are,
and what obstacles do you foresee?
The truth is there haven’t been any obstacles
because of being a woman. Audiences are used to
seeing male flamenco pianists, and perhaps for
that reason they accept me all the more warmly
as soon as I step on stage.

How do people react
to the type of music you play?
Fortunately we’ve been having one success
after another and managing to win people over
with the show as it unfolds. I really enjoy the
music we do and I think that comes across and
communicates to the audience in every show. It’s
always exciting when at the end they give a standing
ovation and ask that we play more.

“I think
the flamenco piano that is being offered these
days is overly influenced by jazz”

You come from a long
line of artists, give us a rundown of the professionals
there’ve been in your family.
Flamenco has always been a way of life in my family.
My mother Pilar, in addition to being a gypsy
woman of great beauty, was an exceptional dancer,
but for personal reasons, she never became professional
although Carmen Amaya sought her out on several
occasions to join her group. My father still sings,
but now semi-professionally, and there’s
a flamenco ‘peña’ in Jerez
dedicated to his name: “El Pescaero”.
My grandfather was a professional guitarist, and
he spent his later years teaching, turning out
some of the best guitarists from Jerez. My aunt
Rosario Montoya was also a professional singer
and my uncle Luis was very successful in Mexico
where he lived for more than twenty years doing
flamenco.

What
are you doing professionally at the moment?
Last December 19th I wrapped up my most recent
tour after 45 shows, and right now we’re
preparing a new show that’s going to be
called “Flamenco en Blanco y Negro”
[Flamenco in black and white]. I’m working
hard with my musicians to get every detail just
so because on January 15th we begin the new season.

Can you give us any
advance information about future plans?
The Arte Sherry company presented my show at the
last Feria Mundial del Flamenco and Womex, which
made very important contacts in Europe and the
United States, and we’re now studying some
very exciting offers. There are also plans for
Portugal and Japan, in addition to shows within
Spain which we’ve already signed.

As you know, the Premio
Nacional de Danza went to Sara Baras this year…what
do you think about that?
Sara’s a great artist, and someone I admire
very much. All prizes of this type are a stimulus
and inspiration to continue working and striving
to improve. I’m very happy for her.

Traditional flamenco
or fusion?
Flamenco can only follow one path…the compás.
Music is a living thing and all musical genres
must be open to evolution and fusion with other
influences. In my show I play everything from
the most orthodox siguiriya to more avant-garde
pieces where different instruments are employed
with the most modern techniques. In any case,
I’m very careful that my music stays within
the most traditional guidelines, with minimal
influence from other types of music because I
think the flamenco piano that’s being offered
these days is overly influenced by jazz.

“Jerez de la
Frontera has three things that make our city a
magical destination for anyone from abroad: horses,
wine and flamenco”

What sort of tourist
is most interested in flamenco, Spanish or from
abroad?
It makes no difference, flamenco has something
that attracts everyone, just so long as the show
being offered has high artistic quality. That’s
why I’ve made sure my group is made up of
excellent musicians, as well as the full range
of interpretive elements: male dance (Miguel Ángel
Heredia), female dance (Jéssica Brea),
cante (Jaime Villar), guitar (Josema Delgado and
Javi Ibáñez), percussion (Curro
Santos), violin (Sophia Quarenghi), flute (Cecilia
Menacho) and fretless bass (Jacinto Gutiérrez).

Do you think flamenco
has the official support it deserves?
I realize that public institutions are providing
a certain amount of support for many cultural
activities including flamenco. Unfortunately this
sponsorship doesn’t reach all shows nor
all artists involved in the current scene, but
let’s hope this financial help becomes more
important and reaches a greater number of artists
and shows as time goes on.

Rocío Acosta García
www.andaluciaturismodigital.com