Lebrijano, Merche Esmeralda and Arcángel were the attending artists at the presentation of Madrid’s most traditional flamenco festival which this year turns sixteen, and is scheduled to be celebrated from January 22nd to February 2nd.
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The festival takes place at two venues, La Casa Encendida, where complementary cultural activities are to be held with recitals by artists like Julián Estrada, guitarist José Antonio Rodríguez and dancer Patricia Guerrero, current holder of the Desplante prize for dance from the La Unión festival. An obligatory visit for many of the capital’s flamenco fans.
At the Albéniz Theater, where cante takes center stage, Enrique Morente (with the guitar of Pepe Habichuela), Arcángel, Lebrijano, Cabrero, Calixto Sánchez, Mayte Martín and Jerez singer el Torta round out a program that would be difficult to improve on. Sheduled shows include Zambra 5.1, Arcángel’s tribute to Manolo Caracol which raised so many hackles at its debut in Málaga en Flamenco causing artists like Lebrijano to pass unfavorable judgement, although he commented that he respected the artist’s right to free expression. The singer from Huelva indicated the show is based on his fondness for Manolo Caracol, a genius whose cante deserves to be revered by all. Manuel Correa who made the audiovisual for Zambra 5.1 that was the main target of criticism, indicated that it was made for mentalities of the 21st century, not the 20th. The show «Mujeres» debuts with dancer Merche Esmeralda who is to receive the prestigious prize Flamenco Calle de Alcalá 2008 awarded by the festival at the Albéniz Theater. Belén Maya, Rocío Molina and Diana Navarro also take part in Mujeres, under the direction of Mario Maya. PROGRAM
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2008 – 8:30 pm
Flamenco Calle de Alcalá Award 2008 for MERCHE ESMERALDA (dance) Show «Mujeres» TICKETS PREPARATORY ACTITIVIES-PROGRAM AUDITORIO Free entrace with invitación to capacity. Invitations may be picked up two hours before the actitivies at the information desk of La Casa Encendida. – Tuesday 22 January – 19:00 horas Conference: «El flamenco, música de la vida» por José Mª Velázquez-Gaztelu
Book presentations by their authors: Cante recital : JULIÁN ESTRADA
Talk: «Retrato de Paco de Lucía» by Félix Grande Flamenco concert guitar: JOSÉ ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ with FRANCISCO JAVIER These activities will take place in the Auditorium Free entrace with invitación to capacity. Invitations may be picked up two hours before the actitivies at the information desk of La Casa Encendida. This recital will take place in
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Tuesday 29 January, 20:30 h. 
Wednesday 30 January, 20:30 h.
Thursday 31 January, 20:30 h.
Friday 1 February, 20:30 h.
Saturday 2 February, 20:30 h.
– Wednesday 23 January – 19:00 horas 
– Thursday 24 January – 19:00 horas
