At midday, in the Corral de la Morería in Madrid, the 55th edition of the prestigious flamenco festival was presented. It is scheduled to be held August 6th to 15th, and features artists such as Estrella Morente, Sara Baras, Arcángel, El Pele, Capullo de Jerez and others.
The formal presentation overseen by Julio García Cegarra, mayor of La Unión, included the presence of many artists and personalities from the worlds of art, culture and politics.
Participating in the event, were the Director General of the Office of the Alto Comisionado of Marca España, Rafael Conde de Saro from the Directora General de Industrias Culturales y de las Artes de la Región de Murcia, Marta López-Briones, as well as singer Estrella Morente.
Estrella Morente, also scheduled to perform in the festival, is this year's keynote speaker, and has referred to the Cante de las Minas as «the most important flamenco event, ever since its beginnings thanks to the number of major artists who have performed, and with a major international projection». She has been defined as a great admirer of the art in all its manifestations, enhancing the formal treatment afforded flamenco in all its forms of expression. Estrella urged people to join her for the keynote speech scheduled for next August 5th.
August 6th is the inaugural day. After the keynote speech of singer Estrella Morente, the winners of last year's Festival will perform: cantaor David Lagos (Lámpara Minera), guitarist José Tomás Jiménez (Bordón Minero), dancer Juan A. Fernández «Barullo» (Desplante), and instrumentalist Antonio Moreno (Filón). Entrance is free for this event.
On the 7th, the gala flamenco shows begin, the first of which is Estrella Morente's along with Israel Galván, followed by Sara Baras (August 8th), Encarnación Fernández and Carlos Piñana accompanied by the Orquesta Sinfónica de la Región de Murcia (August 9th), El Pele and Capullo de Jerez (August 10th), ending up with singer Arcángel on the 11th.
Beginning on the 12th, the Cathedral del Cante will stage three consecutive days of semifinals for the cante, guitar, dance and instrumentalist contests, from which will be selected the finalists who will compete on Saturday the 15th in the grand final to be worthy of the trophies of Las Minas, along with the winners of the first editions of the Festival in Japan.
The Festival's cultural agenda includes the attendance of writer María Dueñas, chef Pablo González Conejero, football personality José Antonio Camacho, bullfighter Pepín Liria, singer Encarnación Fernández and the president of the Región de Murcia, all of whom will receive the Castillete de Oro del Festival, maximum institutional distinction.
They will be joined by the ambassador of the Republic of China in Spain, Lyu Fan, who will collect the prize Catedral del Cante for that country's promotion and defense of the art of flamenco.
The presentation finalized with the performance of last year's winner of the Lámpara Minera, singer David Lagos, accompanied on guitar by Alfredo Lagos. Dancers El Junco and Blanca del Rey, along with singer Capullo de Jerez improvised a spectacular closing fiesta finale.
Complete program and ticket sales
Programación 55 edición
David Lagos & Alfredo Lagos
