Last Monday, February 23 maestro Juanito Valderrama was honored at Madrid’s Palacio de Congresos by a large number of artists and some memorable moments.
Gaspar Zarrías con Juan Valderrama
After an apt presentation by Luis Cano of “Gomaespuma” and
an official speech by Gaspar Zarrías, representative of the Junta
de Andalucía, the governmental agency that organized the event
to take place shortly before Andaluasia’s national celebration,
the flamenco performances got under way.
Monts Cortés
Miguel Poveda
Beginning with Montse Cortés who interpreted “El cantaor”
to tientos, Guadiana offered “Tengo el gusto tan colmao”,
soleá por bulerías. “Torrecampeño”, fandangos
de Huelva was the offering of Potito and Paquete (“La Barbería
del sur”). José el Francés interpreted “El Emigrante”
to tangos, a theme which was later done to bulerías by El Pele
and Manuel Silveria. Carmen Linares did “Garbo malagueño”
and Miguel Poveda along with Chicuelo caused a sensación with their
excellent version of the milonga “La Rosa Cautiva”. Warm applause
for Arcángel for “La novia de Reverte” and Diego el
Cigala appeared with Niño Josele on the guitar and Sabú
handling the cajón with “Madre hermosa” to bulerías
rhythm.
Juan Valderrama with Juan Habichuela
Fin de Fiesta por bulerías
The big suprise came when Juan Habichuela appeared on state with his
guitar raising expectatiions. And sure enough, Juan Valderrama himself
got up on stage to sing some tarantas, and the combined flamenco years
on stage at that point was over a hundred and fifty. Bulerías finale
with all the artists who had participated, and the delightful surprise
of Pilar López who couldn’t resist getting up to dance bulerías
to Don Juan Valderrama’s singing right down where she was sitting
in the audience. Some words of thanks from Dolores Abril, the maestro’s
wife, since her husband was too overcome with emotion to speak, and certainly
the occasion called for nothing less.
