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THE FLAMENCO YEAR IN REVIEW |
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Less ambitious projects, but art knows no recession Estela Zatania In 2009 the difficult worldwide economic situation took its toll in the music industry, and flamenco was not immune. Art has a life of its own, but cutbacks at all levels were felt in festivals with greatly reduced programs or others that were simply suspended, cancelled tours and little activity among record companies who for years have been suffering the effects of music that is readily available via internet or illegal copies. But it isn’t all bad news, and the recession has had the effect of giving young or lesser-known artists the chance to perform in festivals and other events that would normally have placed their bets on the sure-fire stars of always. Social phenomenon Israel Galván maintained his supremacy with the cerebral experimentalism that is his trademark. PRIZES With a long career under her belt, dancer Lola Greco was named to receive Spain’s National Dance Prize for 2009 “for her charisma and creative talent”. At the important contest ofDeFlamenco prizes were for Miguel Poveda, El Pele and Merche Esmeralda along with young artists David Palomar, Farruco and Juan Antonio Suárez “Cano”. GOODBYES The flamenco genre suffered important losses in 2009. In guitar, Ramón de Algeciras left us in January, and in June, after a long illness, Parrilla de Jerez also left flamenco fans grieving. In April we lost one of the most beloved singers of our time, Bernarda de Utrera. Grand veterans each and every one, representatives of an era with few surviving interpreters.
A YEAR OF TRIBUTES AND ANNIVERSARIES Antonio Cruz García and Manuel Ortega Juárez, two legendary giants of flamenco singing better known by flamenco followers as Antonio Mairena and Manolo Caracol, were born the same year, 1909. Both singers’ centennials were remembered throughout 2009 with numerous tributes, conferences, monographic publications, shows throughout all the provinces of Andalusia and two specialized conventions. Emblematic singers Antonio el Sevillano and La Niña de la Puebla, though born the same year, received little public recognition. Ten years after the death of Miguel Vargas “Bambino”, his hometown of Utrera remembered the charismatic singer with a variety of events and a DVD with book. The banking firm Cajasol celebrated its 175th anniversary with a gala show featuring Israel Galván, Arcángel and Pansequito among others. Barcelona’s Taller de Musics commemorated the thirtieth anniversary of the historic recording of Camarón de la Isla “La Leyenda del Tiempo”, coinciding as well with the institution’s 30th year of existence. The Ballet Nacional de España founded the same year, 1979, was also celebrating the event throughout 2009. MADRID and BARCELONA In odd-numbered years there is no Bienal de Sevilla nor Holland, but there were festivals to suit everyone. In January the Suma Flamenca covered the months of spring in its fourth edition. Flamenco in Catalonia is in the best of health as evidenced by the diverse offering: the 16th Festival Flamenco Ciutat Vella, this year with Enrique Morente and Tomatito, and the Festival Flamenco de Nou Barris are the veteran events. In the second half of February the city also hosted a new initiative, Flamenco Empírico, with an diverse program of shows, workshops and presentations with the participation of more than 50 performers, in addition to the 30 Nits de Sabadell and the Encuentro Flamenco celebrated at the Espai Cultural de Caja Madrid which rounded out the flamenco landscape of Spain’s north-eastern region. ANDALUCÍA Once again the Festival de Jerez demonstrated its relevance as the only festival devoted to flamenco and Spanish dance. For the second consecutive year, Córdoba organized its Noche Blanca with shows in the streets of the city all night long until dawn, with the participation of top stars such as Lebrijano, Arcángel and José Mercé. Also in Córdoba, the Festival de la Guitarra was held with the noteworthy participation of Manolo Sanlúcar. The Bienal de Málaga was unable to organize a third edition with the format of its two earlier festivals, but the provincial government drew up a wide-ranging program of activities to fill the year, ending with the magnificent series “Singulares” starring Estrella Morente and Fosforito. The second edition of Flamenco en Escena held last year in Arcos had to be cancelled, although most of the classic summer festivals such as the Festival Flamenco de Almería, Los Veranos del Corral in Granada, the Reunión de Cante Jondo de La Puebla de Cazalla filled their ample outdoor venues. The series Flamenco Viene del Sur offered a varied program, and Cádiz and Jerez maintained the high quality of their respective Jueves Flamencos and Viernes Flamencos. The Salón Internacional de Moda Flamenca, SIMOF, once again attracted thousands of visitors to Sevilla.
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