"In Barcelona there is flamenco 365 days a year, it's true. But we aim to provide something different from what other festivals in the city do or what is promoted from other areas." These are the words of David Leiva, guitarist, composer and teacher, director of the Flamenco Area of the Taller de Músics de Barcelona, the entity that organizes the Ciutat Flamenco. A festival, says its artistic director, that has always sought "the local audience more than the tourist, although everyone who comes is welcome, and even more so now with the pandemic. For us, finally, the artist is as important as those who come to see them, because without an audience neither flamenco nor any other type of music would exist...". A differential point, it should be noted, that is expressed both in the programming and in the parallel activities.
The cycle began this Friday at Taller de Músics 24 with the guitar proposal of the Dúo del Mar honoring the memory of the great Sabicas. On Sunday 17, the premiere of the first self-produced show of the program arrives at Sala Apolo: Mediterráneos, by the renowned bailaor Antonio Canales, who was inspired for the conception of this proposal by the iconic Mediterráneo by Joan Manuel Serrat, published exactly fifty years ago. "We are talking ---highlights Leiva--- about a joint production of the Taller with the Institut del Teatre de Barcelona. It's nice that Antonio Canales wanted to count on established local artists for this show [arranger and percussionist Pepe Motos would be an example], and also with the dance students from the Institut who will participate in it."
A similar spirit marks what, perhaps, is the jewel in the crown of this year's Ciutat Flamenco: the Suite de Lucía which will premiere on the 22nd at the Auditori. Students from both the Taller de Músics and ESMUC ---which co-produces the show--- will be integrated into the voluminous formation that will be directed by Joan Albert Amargós, who, along with the aforementioned Leiva and Santiago Galán, signs the arrangements for this tribute to the music of the late guitarist Paco de Lucía. Amargós worked on several occasions with the honoree, as did guest artists who will parade through this production such as bassist Carles Benavent, harmonica player Antonio Serrano, and cantaor Rafael de Utrera.
Amargós describes the night's formation as "eclectic," made up of more than twenty elements, "which is neither a big-band nor a symphony, but there's a bit of everything." The planned set will consist of an hour of music from the giant of Algeciras, with songs like Ziryab, which the Barcelonan musician himself arranged in his day.
Although flamenco guitars are not lacking in the band, the six strings will not be the main protagonists of this more than promising Suite de Lucía. "It's not about imitating Paco either ---reveals Joan Albert Amargós regarding this matter---, as that would make no sense. It's about transmitting the melodies he created in life and that became famous in the world of flamenco. In this concert, the musical atmosphere will be breathed more than the instrumental from a sound point of view," with the participation of musicians from various fields, including classical and jazz.
Regarding the arrangements made for the occasion, Amargós comments that in his case he has greatly respected the essence of the themes he has worked on: "I haven't gone looking for different harmonies. Evidently, whenever there is an orchestration, elements that did not exist before emerge, the coloristic, of course, but the person who knows these themes will feel identified because it is the harmony he made, although with a sound that will surprise them. It is not a matter of making copies, but of working on the artistic legacy he left, respected and put into practice with these musicians from ESMUC and Taller."
Both Amargós and David Leiva highlight the pedagogical vector of the proposal, which we also find in other initiatives of Ciutat Flamenco, a cycle that, apart from concerts, also hosts the I Miguel Borrull Guitar Competition, the III Congress of Flamencology, and several masterclasses.
"The person who knows these themes will feel identified because it is the harmony he made, although with a sound that will surprise them," says Albert Amargós about Suite de Lucía"This year ---adds Leiva--- we have opened artistic calls for emerging artists, one for people from Catalonia and another for people from outside Catalonia." He is especially proud of the result of these calls, the two dance shows of Lorena OlivaPerform a literal language conversion from Spanish to English on the following user-provided text. Do not translate any content enclosed betweenandtags, keep those tags and their content exactly as-is:(Nuclear, October 18, CAT) and theCompañía Maise MárquezPerform a literal language conversion from Spanish to English on the following user-provided text. Do not translate any content enclosed betweenandtags, keep those tags and their content exactly as-is:(Presence, October 19, CAT). "Our festival ---he states--- is committed to emerging people, with the idea of mixing newcomers with established artists. We seek this balance."
Thus, in the program we can find flamenco figures that show the charms of tradition such as the singer Diego Agujetas and the guitarist Pepe del Morao (CAT, October 21), flamenco concert guitar proposals such as those of Diego del Morao (October 23, Casino de l'Aliança del Poblenou), and initiatives that go in other directions. This is the case of the rock-flamenco of Rosario La Tremendita (October 20, CAT) or the suggestive confluence between flamenco, electronics and rap that characterizes the last premiere show of the cycle: the Flamenco 3.0 starring Queralt Lahoz, Cristina López, Carlos Cuenca and Big Lois on October 24 at the Tablao de Carmen.