María Soleá – 1932-2005

Text: Estela Zatania

Born
in 1932 on the Calle Nuevo of the Santiago neighborhood, María
began singing and dancing at an early age in tablao and theater. It was
Antonio Mairena himself who recognized her talent and brought her to the
forefront.

She retired from professional life while still young, picking up again
after the death of her famous brother in order to preserve and transmit
her family’s cante. With a singing style strongly reminiscent of
Terremoto, María Soleá sang the fiesta forms with just as
much energy and ability as the most basic cantes, and her graceful dance
rounded out every performance, even in 2003 when she participated, nearly
blind, in the show titled “Los Venerables” within the Fiestas
de Otoño of Jerez de la Frontera. Her voice is registered on various
recordings.