The Flamenco Festival at Sadler’s Wells is an eagerly awaited selection of performances. For those new to flamenco the wealth of choice can be daunting. The essential elements of flamenco are dance, song, and guitar. The Gala evening promises a glimpse of leading artists from each of these disciplines all in one show. As such, it serves as an ideal choice for those sampling flamenco for the first time.
The aficionado in search of a raw flamenco performance is perhaps also more likely to find it on Gala night. Rather than a large choreographed company performance, a group of high achieving individuals is brought together for one evening: artists who may rarely appear together otherwise. So, whether you’re a novice or a seasoned flamenco lover, the Gala promises to be a safe bet!
This year, the Flamenco Festival Gala brought award winning artists from the biannual flamenco festival of Seville. The Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía opened the show with a display of technical precision as a group of dancers interweave a large silk shawl. Stark black and white costumes against a bright pink backdrop accentuate the clean cut performance. Clarity and meticulous accuracy regenerate in the form of guitar music with Manuel Valencia. Rapid clean notes, strong compositions and sharp off-beats ensue.
Theatrical formality is shattered with the entrance of legendary singer El Lebrijano and his easy banter between audience and sound technician. Lit in a pool of vintage sepia, his familiar melodies are as comforting as a grandfather’s storytelling before a winter fire. Vocal tones of a bygone era surge as metallic notes of 'jondo' or deep flamenco grasp the air. Innate flamenco expression is released melodically and bodily, direct from the heart.