Estrella Morente. Presentation in Madrid of her newest recording 'Mujeres'

Presentation in Madrid

of her newest recording
«Mujeres»
18th may. , Teatro Lara (Madrid)

“More mature, more of an artist”

Text: Sonia Martínez Pariente
Photos: Rafael Manjavacas

Estrella Morente presented her third recording at
the Lara Theater in Madrid. “Mujeres” is the title
of this latest work which the singer dedicates to relevant
performers of music and film. It’s been five years since
her previous work and it’s clear Estrella has matured.
You might say she goes one step further on this recording.
She’s still the singer of sweet trills and melodious
adornment, but her flamenco voice also interprets derivative
pieces such as “Nostalgias” or “Vuelvo al
Sur”, with all the substance of any great singer. Estrella
came out on stage prepared to give her all.

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She began with a zambra from her show “Estrella 1922”
which is included on the record. Accompanied by a group of
lauds from Albaicin and gypsies from Madrid and Granada, Estrella
spices up each piece with her unmistakable style and serves
it up to spectators in such a way that wins everyone over.
This is a performer for all audiences. She manages to get
everyone humming her tunes on the way out of theater, things
like the zambra “qué quieres de mí, qué
quieres de mí, si hasta el agua que yo bebo te la tengo
que pedir” (‘what more do you want from me, I
even have to ask you for the water I drink’).

Her interpretive ability is another strong suit, the gestures,
her dancing, all done with a touch of elegance. Spanish lyrical
song is a genre Estrella dominates and fills with flamenco
feeling. “Ay, Mari Cruz!”, dedicated to Imperio
Argentina is the chosen piece for this work, and it’s
powerfully interpreted. The tangos in honor of La Gazpacha,
La Repompa and la Tía Concha, with the typical Morente
touch, stand out in the first part of the recital.

She’s no longer just
a flamenco artist, she’s the total performer

And as if we’d been transported to another concert,
Estrella changes her ruffled dress for a tailcoat, and the
guitars and lauds for the piano of Leo Sujatovich. She takes
on the song dedicated to Rocío Jurado “Vuelvo
al Sur” and the Argentine tango “Nostalgias”
in honor of Susana Rinaldi. With subtlety and shading she
manages tremendously moving moments enhanced by the maestro
at the piano. This is where the singer’s privileged
voice goes beyond, with her flamenco sound, her arabesques
and the melodic richness, she’s no longer just a flamenco
artist, she’s the total performer. Not from the record,
but also interpreted, “Chiquilín de Bachín”
from her father’s last recording “Sueña
la Alhambra”, is sung with amazing delicacy.

More flamenco with the bulerías of Perla de Cádiz
and the the taranta “La Joya”, one of the most
traditional pieces of the concert, where Estrella once again
becomes the versatile and captivating flamenco singer, radiating
duende and sensitivity. “La Noche de mi Amor”
which pays tribute to Chavela Vargas to the compás
of bulerías, again relying on the Morente sound, ended
this presentation concert of “Mujeres”. A record
which honors prestigious artists, giving us the opportunity
to once again enjoy another top rank artist, Estrella Morente.

ENRIQUE
& ESTRELLA MORENTE
Festival de la Guitarra de Córdoba

Mi Cante y un Poema – Estrella Morente