Flamenco dancing and singing have been recently declared part of the World Heritage by UNESCO, and it was about time! This alive and sensual dance -and especially this music- that vibrates with the sound of a guitar with perfect rhythm, the rhythm of the hands, the sound of the heels on the floor and the screech of the ‘castañuelas’ encompasses all the feelings of humanity. The mix of western and Middle Eastern sounds reminisces love, pain, solitude, joy, death, life. To summarise, flamenco is the mood of the human being and, therefore, it’s the same for everyone.
In Spain it’s considered the top traditional music, the maximum expression of gypsy and Andalucian culture: a warm, sensual land where on the beaches, in the summer, you can suddenly hear a flamenco guitar or see the beautiful dancers dressed with striking dresses. Not all of Spain claims this tradition but all the regions of Spain are subject to its charm and organize concerts, parties and festivals in its honour.
If you’re on holiday in beautiful Valencia -in February- you cannot miss the 16th Flamenco Festival in Valencia that, this year, will take place in a reduced way (only three days) but with the participation of very important artists and singers: Juan Valderrama (with his ‘Sonidos Blancos’), Grammy award winner Niña Pastori (with a premiere of her album ‘La Orilla de mi pelo’) and the dance company Compañía de Danza Joven Mediterráneo, together with other artists such as Belén Maya, Olga Pericet and Luis Ortega.
In the beautiful rooms of the impressive Palau, that “has exceptional accoustics” according to Montserrat Caballé, the performers will take turns in this fabulous contest dedicated to languid music and dance: 11th and 19th of February and 3rd of March.
The festival was in danger of being cancelled due to the grave economic crisis that is affecting the whole of Spain, especially in regions like Valencia- but, thankfully, it was saved. The fans of this music genre who are travelling to this beautiful port city in Spain will be able to attend the performances of the artists, who rarely leave Spain to play.
Juan Valderrama (singer of Tarantas y Malagueñas) will have the honour to inaugurate this event (11th of February). He is an excellent ‘cantaor’ who wasn’t artistically born with flamenco but who developed into it until he made it his own, performing it in a majestic way.
On the 19th of February it will be the turn of Compañía de Danza Joven Mediterráneo. The Mediterráneo show, performed by the recently formed dance company, includes titles such as ‘Siluet’, ’7 rosas’ and ‘Sonar’. All in all, 22 dancers will go on stage together with three other international artists: Belén Maya, Olga Pericet and Luis Ortega.
And, lastly, Niña Pastori will go on stage (March 3rd) to close the festival with the presentation of her latest album.
Here’s the website to download the programme: http://www.palaudevalencia.com/ver/50/XVI-Festival-Flamenco-de-Valencia.html
Paola Grieco
If you’re in Spain on these dates, this is another reason to prolong your stay and find apartments in Valencia just to attend this unforgettable show.
February 9th, 2012 at 4:38 pm
From 11 to 19 of FEB the most spectacular #Spanish #music during the XVI Flamenco Festival in #Valencia #Folklore http://t.co/1S3GE1Oj