After a three-year hiatus, the usually annual Flamenco Festival has returned to Sadler’s Wells. I attended one of the events last night, Gala Fiesta de la Bulería de Jerez. I left the show feeling invigorated, amazed and thoroughly entertained. The only disappointment I had was that I wasn’t able to attend any prior performances and won’t be able to catch any other dates during the festival’s run.
If you can make it round to Sadler’s Wells before the festival ends 2 July, I’m certain you’ll have a wonderful time enjoying world-class performances by some of the best Flamenco musicians and dancers in the world today.
With its loud release of emotion that’s a guttural as it is vocal, and its minimal instrumentation dominated by driving percussion and guitar, it leaves a far greater impact on the listener than most other genres of music. It hits the listener with a sound that’s heavier than metal and rawer than punk. As much as it is a folk art, it’s too personal and domestic – and geared toward individual experience – to sit comfortably beside most of its traditional music counterparts. There’s a classical formality to flamenco that’s strict but spare, leaving plenty of room for idiosyncratic style and variation.
And then there’s the dancing. For all the finesse and flair that flamenco entails, it’s the sheer pounding force of foot to floor that tends to astound most. Despair, ambition, excessive joy despite hardship – it’s expended for the sake of art. Emphasis on an individual dancer’s opportunity to shine allows singular expression in group performance similar to a jazz solo.
All that was bundled up tight and released with magnificent verve at last night’s Gala Fiesta de la Bulería de Jerez – a roughly 90 minute display of traditional flamenco at its best by Compañía María del Mar Moreno. An ensemble featuring some of of Andalusia’s most acclaimed dancers – including Fuensanta “La Moneta” and Pastora Galván, and vocalists such as Tía Juana La del Pipa – the company wowed without relent.
I was invited to attend Gala Fiesta de la Bulería de Jerez and was especially glad I could accept the offer.
Lots more is lined up as the Flamenco Festival continues into July. Highlights on the calendar include Tomatito in concert and El Yiyo y Su Troupe. Unfortunately, the much anticipated performance by Estrella Morente (which I was hoping to attend) has been cancelled due to illness.
The Flamenco Festival runs until 2 July at Sadler’s Wells, Roseberry Avenue, EC1R 4TN.
Find out more at sadlerswells.com/flamenco-festival-2022.
