Sara Arguijo
Photos: Miguel Valverde
Córdoba, June 20th, 2015
Dorantes, Farruquito and El Pele; Dani Navarro; Eterno Camarón; India Martínez; Estrella Morente; Lin Cortés; David Barrull; Tomasito.
The “Noche Blanca” of shared flamenco
Sunday morning Córdoba woke up clapping in three-quarter time after a long drawn-out night in which singing and dancing once again filled the plazas and streets of the historic city straight through until dawn. The eighth edition of the Noche Blanca del Flamenco successfully survived the 95-degree heat thanks to a first-class program full of big names with the most varied type of music.
The object is to join in the party. Get out there and be seen in this pseudo pilgrimage whose main stops are marked by the chords of a guitar, the reflection of a silhouette upon a historic space or simply the need for refreshment. All in all, you're part of an event, knowing that if you hope to enjoy some artistry, it takes a great deal of patience. You have to know the shortcuts to avoid crowds and allow you to move from one concert to the next in the least possible time. And waiting anxiously on the curb for a show to get underway, knowing that one of those lovely orange trees and/or columns might end up completely blocking your view.
In other words, more than speak about the quality of the various shows, the object is to describe the experience of living flamenco in the street, sharing knowledge and preferences in a group situation. The friend who explains to everyone else what a “soleá” is, the one who has an interesting bit of information about some artist or other, or the one who pulls a sandwich out of his knapsack, although one could surely question the sound problems, and even the security measures presented by some of the venues. And, unfortunately, the growing fad to turn a cultural festival into a giant street party.
In any case, there was time to enjoy the fine sound of El Pele who once again was the opening act of the night at the Plaza de las Tendillas. This time, alongside Dorantes and Farruquito, who stole most of the applause. As did Alba Molina who sang some bulerías in memory of her father, Manuel Molina, to whom this year's festival was dedicated.
There was also the pure dancing to be seen in “Asómate”, a well-rounded piece from the Córdoba dancer Daniel Navarro. This was followed by ‘Eterno Camarón’ with Pedro El Granaíno, Mercedes de Córdoba and Eduardo Guerrero, which drew many of the singer's fans, the same as for Enrique Morente in the patio of the old Alcázar, where steadfast flamenco fans gathered.
At one o'clock in the morning, a facing-off between women with India Martínez at the Plaza de la Corredera and Estrella Morente at the Patio de los Naranjos. Without a doubt, the two great concerts of the night in which both interpreters were outstanding, and enjoyed a thoroughly rapt audience.
Following this was Lin Cortés at the Plaza del Potro with his ‘Gispy Evolution’, a production of flamenco and Arabic music at the Plaza de Abades, and David Barrull at the Archaeological Museum at a time of day when the streets were packed with people. To tie things up, Tomasito returned to this event, more “savage” than ever, to show that even though it was near sunrise, people still wanted more. All in all, it's a good thing there's a whole year to the next Noche Blanca, because you have to be prepared in order to survive such intense activity.
