Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos de Sevilla. October 23-26, 2003
The day started right off with excitement at the booth of the Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla where the Medalla al Mérito del Trabajo for lifelong achievement, presented only the day before to Fernanda de Utrera, was put on display.
At midday the
Centro Cultural El Monte de Sevilla unveiled its program for the 2003/2004
season with eighteen shows including Manolo Sanlúcar, Manolete,
la Macanita with Juan de Juan, Diego el Cigala, Belén Maya and
Mayte Martín, Remedios Amaya and Diego Carrasco among others.
Chano Lobato & Antonio Carrión
The large pavilion was filled to overflowing for singers Chano Lobato,
Antonio Reyes and Carmen de la Jara with Antonio Carrión on the
guitar. Immediately following, in the auditorium next door, the show ‘Ahora
Utrera’ thrilled a numerous audience with the short documentary
that served as prologue and which drew emotional applause and an ovation
with the mere mention of Fernanda de Utrera who now receives the title
of «Ilustrísima Señora». In the show that followed
the young artists from Utrera called up sounds and cantes of their families
including those of Fernanda and Bernarda, Perrate, Manuel de Angustias,
Gaspar de Utrera and Bambino among the numerous maestros this town has
given the art. A long and delightful ending por bulerías left no
doubt that the singers of Utrera are not only the real thing, but each
one cultivates an individual personality.
Ahora Utrera
Just so no one would come up short, there was also a concert of flamenco
piano with «La Reina Gitana», a recital by Artistas Jóvenes
de Mairena del Alcor and the presentation titled «Como canta Badajoz!»
with home-grown artists who gave a perspective of flamenco in Extremadura.
The recital of the brilliant Gerardo Núñez Trío
was well-attended and the official program neatly summed up this musician’s
work: «Virtuosity at the service of sensitive music and flamenco
depth, connecting with new forms of musical expression».
Closing out this full day with something for everyone, María Serrano's company presented their work «Carmen Pasión Flamenca», while in the large auditorium we were able to enjoy the show «Nuevos Senderos de la Fusión Flamenca» under the musical direction of Gerardo Núñez and Pedro Sambeat.
