Vicente Amigo in Flamenco Festival Torrelodones 07

Text: Manuel Moraga
Photos: Rafael Manjavacas

Moments in silence

Vicente Amigo came determined to share, and he had to struggle with a variety of obstacles. But not even the important football match, which no doubt influenced the change in hour of the recital, nor technical problems with the acoustics could dampen the pleasure of the beautiful music of this wonderfully creative man.  A recital between sound and silence where there was not one empty seat.

A white chair with a tall white oval back placed the guitarist at the spatial center of the stage.  Vicente Amigo appeared dressed in black, along, to tune up for a taranto that turned into soleá, and then ended – with the whole band participating – to the rhythm of fandangos.  A sentimental transition that reflects the complex musical world Vicente Amigo carries within.

The artist concentrated mostly on pieces from his last recording, “Un Momento en el Sonido”,  although we could also recognize earlier themes.  In any case it’s the Vicente Amigo brand of guitar-playing that is present in each of his compositions and, above all, that interior Vicente Amigo, more mystical than on the above-mentioned recording.  It’s no easy task to bring that sentimental universe to a live show.  It’s not easy to express that minimalism from a stage.  But Vicente Amigo likes challenges.  What a pity something so important as the sound would fall.

Shortly after the beginning of the recital, the first disaster arrived when the sound went completely.  And the audience’s silence was absolute in order to be able to appreciate the music which, despite everything, Vicente Amigo and his musicians continued to offer.  Warm applause showed how grateful the audience was.  The sound returned momentarily, then disappeared, feedback, adjustment… And nearly at the end of the recital, again, silence.

But not even problems like that could take away the audience’s enthusiasm.  The “Tangos del Arco Bajo”, the farruca “Silla y el Tiempo”, that precious “Bolero a Marcos”…  Pieces that manage to create a sincere climate, full of truth, and above all, brimming with the guitarist’s feelings.  Emotions backed up at every step of the way by percussionists Patricio Camara and Paquiito González, guitarist José Manuel Hierro, bass-player Antonio Ramos and singer Rafael de Utrera,

Once again we had the good fortune to enjoy the extraordinarily beautiful lyrical music of Vicente Amigo.  Notes enveloped in a melancholic atmosphere but which search for luminosity at each step of the way. Notes that Vicente Amigo allows to live and evolve in space and time.  Unfortunately the sound problems and our seats which were high up, translated into long moments of silence. 

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