Flamenco Festival USA in NYC * Review is Here!

Flamenco Festival 2024 reviewed by Ana Maria Suarez

For over 23 years, Miguel Marin has produced and directed his esteemed annual ‘Flamenco Festival’ on the east coast. This year’s programming presented two separate and distinct first-class companies, each touring to Boston, Miami and New York City.

The New York City performances alone numbered an unbelievable nine shows over two consecutive weekends. I was fortunate to attend the culminating weekend in NYC. I was accompanied by my husband, a flamenco novice, and I was able to also see a completely different view of this art form I have loved for more than half my lifetime. Needless to say, he was entranced by the performances. Interestingly he commented on the uncomplicated but very effective and dramatic lighting and excellent sound. As well.

The famed Spanish National Ballet, or Ballet Nacional de España (BNE) opened the March 2024 festival to wide acclaim in Boston, Miami and New York City. In a widely varied program and with the largest performing company in Spain, the BNE celebrated Mario Maya and his many contributions through his flamenco life.

The subsequent weekend opened in a different direction on Friday March 15th, with the ever evolving and imaginative Olga Pericet in her critically acclaimed work ‘La Leona’ (the Lioness) a ‘double entendre’ referring to own fierce perseverance and enormous strength of character, but at the same time ‘La Leona intended as a nod to the famous 19th century guitar designed in 1856 by guitarist Antonio de Torres.

While attending both weekends would have been a dream, we flew to NYC for the culminating second weekend. Anxious and very excited to see ‘Gala Flamenca’, I knew we were in store for an unexpected mix of musical talent by some of today’s top flamenco figures (figuras).

Attending the Flamenco Festival in NYC is special. The audiences from this vibrant multicultural hub love flamenco and it shows. Marin’s Flamenco Festival is such an anticipated series that I bought my tickets on the very first day they were made available to the public. We were not disappointed as our seat selection for the two concerts of ‘Gala Flamenca’ we attended were excellent. I highly recommend getting on the Festival mailing list and following the dates to do the same.

Staged by the multi-talented Manuel Liñan, “Gala Flamenca’ 2024 was choreographed by all four of the dancers; Manuel Liñan, Alfonso Losa, Paula Comitre and El Yiyo, quite different as individuals, yet surprisingly well melded in ‘Gala’. The divine selection of talented musicians & singers also seemed particularly bonded with the dancers, rather than just separately. These included the seasoned powerhouse singers Antonio Campos and David Carpio, joined by the very impressive cantaora Sandra Carrasco. The top-notch handpicked guitarists /composers were Francisco Viñuesca and Javier Ibañez. An admitted purist I, have now become a true percussion convert after hearing and seeing (yes seeing) the emotive talent of Kike Terrón. A masterful, formidable member of this year’s ‘Gala Flamenca’.

With the full group opener Romance Buleria I immediately felt the chill of goose bumps that only such amazing talent can provoke so quickly simply with the opening of the curtain. It was tight and it was joyful and very flamenco.

Sandra Carrasco followed with a delightful light and well sung Cantiñas. Her tonality and timing, so personal and lilting, gave me pause to this newer talent that had caught glimpses of on television but not yet in person.

Cantiñas segued into Alegrias with the imposing figure of El Yiyo. Handsome and resplendent in red, El Yiyo was the punch of charismatic flamenco puro that made the audience hold tight as he shifted things into the next gear. One hundred percent turbo power, confidence, and gypsy style, El Yiyo’s presence was magnetic.

Guajira followed with the lovely lyrical Paula Comitre in a flowing light green bata de cola. Her effortless handling of the bata with its ruffled layers moving back and forth in an exquisite choreography was reminiscent of waves and the caressing pull of the tide as if she were herself being pulled longingly away from Cuba by the ‘madre patria’. The consistently superb cante of both Campos and Carpio proved especially emotionally and deliberately fragile and sensitive here.

A surprising Verdiales followed sung by Sandra Carrasco. Liñan and Losa were fully committed to what seems to be a refreshing palo not often performed in the US. I was happy to see it included.

In a logical transition Sandra Carrasco beautifully sung an intimate and heartfelt Fandango accompanied by the two guitar masters.

Alfonso Losa performed next. An elegant figure with beautiful lines, Losa’s interpretation was masterful, elegant and interesting. This was not an old school farruca, rather it was powerful, sleek and intricate all at the same time. Losa’s exceptional footwork and turns were noteworthy.

In a guitar duo Javier Ibañez and Francisco Vinuesca paid homage to the late Paco de Lucia and his compositions in Fuente y Caudal. Not enough can be said of these two impeccable guitarists/arrangers/composers.

As traditionally done, the penultimate number is usually performed by an extraordinary artist. While Manuel Liñan humbly co-performed as ‘ one of the troupe (even in the bows) he was inarguably the showstopper. His deeply emotive and masterfully performed Solea was riveting. Dressed all in black bata and mantón. There was no doubt of the fact that Liñan is at the top of his firm technically and artistically. At one point I realized he was expertly maneuvering the black bata AND the shawl And doing footwork in unison, All the while making it look joyous and easy. It just cannot get any better than this. Liñan is continually impressive yet offers pure dancing. Extraordinario como bailaor y como artista.

The cante accompaniment to Liñan’s solea brought tears to my eyes in not one but both performances. Pure cante jondo at its best. I would be remiss in leaving out the talent of Kike Terrón whose percussion was the glue for this amazing troupe.

It was fantastic to see this kind of talent and even more to see the obvious unity and unique musical and artistic connection (even emotional) among these special artists of ‘ Gala Flamenca.’ Gala Flamenca never disappoints. But this year it was very special.

Ana Maria Suarez
Asesora Cultural de España y Andalucia, Los Angeles

Photos courtesy of Ana Maria Suarez and Flamenco Festival USA.