46th Festival Internacional de Cante de las Minas de La Unión

This year the festival will pay tribute to Cristina Hoyos and there’s
an interesting program with Vicente Amigo, José Menese, José
Mercé, Manuel Agujetas, Diego el Cigala, Carmen Linares, Miguel
Poveda, Merche Esmeralda and Manuela Carrasco among others, all combined
with the celebration of the internationally prestigious cante, guitar
and dance contests.

The mayor of La Unión, Manuel Sanes, presented the festival with
the assistance of María Martínez, head of culture. This
year the festival has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs to bring flamenco to the embassies of the world.

Cristina Hoyos thanked the festival’s representatives for the tribute:
“I never expect to receive special recognition or prizes, I always
think other people deserve them, but on the other hand, people tell me
I’ve always been a fighter for our art and I’m delighted to
be here”. The official tribute is slated to take place Monday August
7th.

Cristina Hoyos y María Martínez

The festival opens August 3rd with the traditional keynote speech and
the performance of the previous year’s winners: singer Gema Jiménez
and dancer Daniel Navarro. Vicente Amigo will present his show “Poeta”
accompanied by the Orquesta Sinfónica de Murcia. Menese, Agujetas,
El Pipa and Nano de Jerez perform Saturday the 5th. Carmen Linares, Miguel
Poveda and Luis de Córdoba offer their recital Sunday the 6th and
singer Diego el Cigala will share the stage with Merche Esmeralda, Rafael
Campallo and Manolo Marín on Monday the 7th.

The final gala show features José Mercé and Manuela Carrasco.
The final days will be devoted to the semifinals and final of the contest
with participants selected in fourteen auditions carried out in various
Spanish capitals.

During this time the city of La Unión becomes the world capital
of flamenco attracting fans from all over the globe. Workshops are also
programed as well as book presentations, cultural awards, exhibits and
of course after-hours flamenco shows

Poster for the 46th edition designed by Uruguayan artist Juan de Andrés

46 ed. Festival Internacional de Cante
de las Minas
La Unión (Murcia) – August 3rd to 12th

Mercado Antiguo de La Unión – 10:45pm