For the last night of the La Unión festival,
with the finals and announcement of the winners scheduled,
the Cathedral of Cante was packed to the rafters and expectation
filled the air. Seventeen men and one woman had been chosen
to compete for an assortment of prizes including the three
main ones, the Lámpara Minera (for mineras cante),
the Bordón (for guitar) and the Desplante (for dance).
The
coveted Lámpara Minera with a prize of 9000 euros was
disputed between Juan Pinilla, Miguel Ángel de Tena
and Raúl Montesinos and went to the latter from La
Puebla de Cazalla. In 2003 Manuel González “Rubito
hijo”, also from La Puebla, carried off the Lámpara
Minera…what has this little Seville town got that produces
singers specialized in these cantes? Raúl, 30 years
old, has participated in the Bienal’s Concurso de Jóvenes
Intérpretes and holds various first prizes such as
that of La Unión for alegrías (2001), from the
Peña el Gallo de Morón (2000), from Valdepeñas
(1998) and Los Palacios (1998) among others. The singer was
visibly moved upon hearing his name called out for the prize
which he promptly dedicated to his father in an emotional
acceptance speech.
“This prize is the
most important of all” Javier Conde
When
the first prize for guitar was announced, there was a collective
cry of satisfaction. The very young Javier Conde from Cáceres
(1989), a true child prodigy who was finalist in this same
contest in 2000 at the age of eleven, earned not only the
highest award and corresponding cash prize of 3600 euros,
but the audience’s affection and admiration. At 15 his
technique is clean, his tones pure and sweet and he dominates
a wide repertoire of pieces by maestros such as Sabicas, Paco
de Lucía, Andrés Batista, Esteban de Sánlucar
and Serranito while giving his own fresh interpretation. In
the dressing-room the quiet young man commented on his fondness
for the classics and said “this prize is the most important
of all”.
The
Desplante, first prize for dance, was disputed between two
men, Juan Polvillo from Sevilla and David Pérez from
Alcalá de Guadaira, with a slightly lower level than
seen in other years. Young David, 22 years old, was the winner
of the Desplante trophy and 4500 euros for his dances por
taranto and soleá por bulerías.
Cayetano Moreno Castro, 25, from Cartagena, won second prize
for guitar with a playing style that was halfway between classic
and contemporary. Guillermo Cano from Bollullos del Condado,
one of the favorites, a veteran of other years and finalist
this year in two categories, was unable to participate in
the finals as he had to leave La Unión hurriedly to
attend a personal matter.
Young Granada singer Victor Blaya ‘Charico’ surprised
everyone with his full rich voice that was reminiscent of
Terremoto de Jerez, and his ability with the most challenging
cantes. Almost without competition his siguiriyas and bulería
por soleá earned him prizes in both categories under
the heading “Cantes Bajo Andaluces” (cantes of
lower Andalucía). Franciso José Sánchez
‘Bonela Hijo’, a regular at the most important
cante contests with over 120 prizes under his belt, can now
add two more from this edition of La Unión, for serranas
and fandango abandolao.
Total absence of dissent with
regard to the choice of winners
The oldest winner this year was Roque Barato, 47, who took
the prize for malagueña. With a lovely natural voice
and sensitive delivery he managed a splendid interpretation
of the malagueña of La Trini. Twenty-two-year-old singer
Antonio Álvarez ‘Pitingo’ received the
Special Prize for Young Singers for his soleá. Two
prizes, those for cartageneras and “other cantes mineros”
were left unawarded.
Perhaps the most interesting and admirable detail to come
out of this year’s edition of the most prestigious flamenco
awards, was the total absence of dissent with regard to the
choice of winners by a panel of judges made up of Merche Esmeralda,
Franciso Cayuela, Cristina Cruces, José Manuel Gamboa,
Franciso Hidalgo, Franciso José Paredes and Francisco
Valero who deserve a prize themselves.
WINNERS OF THE CANTE, GUITAR,
DANCE AND CANTE PRIZES OF THE 44TH EDICION OF THE FESTIVAL
INTERNACIONAL DEL CANTE DE LAS MINAS. Augusty 14th, 2004
44th CANTE FLAMENCO CONTEST GROUP I: CANTES MINEROS FIRST PRIZE FOR MINERAS, 9.000 € plus
LAMPARA MINERA trophy , Raúl Montesinos Hoyos
Juan Pinilla
Miguel Angel Tena
Roque Barato
SECOND PRIZE FOR MINERAS, (3.000 €)
Juan Pinilla Martín
PRIZE FOR CARTAGENERAS, (3.000 €)
Left unawarded
PRIZE FOR TARANTAS, (3.000 €) Miguel Angel de Tena
PRIZE FOR MURCIANAS AND OTHER CANTES MINEROS,
(3.000 €)
Left unawarded
Por la interpretación en los cantes de: GROUP II: CANTES DE MÁLAGA,
GRANADA Y CÓRDOBA PRIZE FOR MALAGUEÑAS, (3.000 €)
Roque Barato
Bonela Hijo
Victor Blaya “Charico”
Antonio “Pitingo”
PRIZE FOR OTHER CANTES DE MALAGA, GRANADA Y CORDOBA,
(3.000 €), Francisco José Sánchez Bandera “Bonela
Hijo”
Fandango abandolao
GROUP III: CANTES BAJO ANDALUCES
PRIZE FOR GROUP “A” FOR LOWER ANDALUCÍA
CANTES, (3.000 €), Victor Blaya “Charico”
Siguiriya
PRIZE FOR GROUP “B” FOR LOWER ANDALUCÍA
CANTES, (3.000 €), Francisco José Sánchez Bandera “Bonela
Hijo”
Serranas
PRIZE FOR GROUP “C” FOR LOWER ANDALUCÍA
CANTES, (3.000 €), Victor Blaya “Charico”
SPECIAL PRIZE FOR YOUNG SINGERS, (900 €),
Antonio Alvarez Pérez “Antonio Pitingo
Cayetano Moreno
Juan Polvillo
25th CONTEST OF FLAMENCO GUITAR
FIRST PRIZE FOR FLAMENCO GUITAR, 3.600 €
“BORDON MINERO” trophy Javier Conde
SECOND PRIZE FOR FLAMENCO GUITAR, 2.100 €, Cayetano Moreno Castro
11th CONTEST OF FLAMENCO DANCE
FIRST PRIZE FOR FLAMENCO DANCE, 5.400 € and trophy “EL
DESPLANTE”, David Pérez Almagro
SECOND PRIZE FOR FLAMENCO DANCE, 3.600 €, Juan Polvillo Serrano
