Manuela Carrasco, Aurora Vargas, Farruquito, and Duquende, among the 200 artists at the 9th Malaga Flamenco Art Biennial

Manuela Carrasco, Farruquito, Aurora Vargas, Duquende, Pedro El Granaíno, Antonio Reyes, Jesús Méndez, José de la Tomasa, Luisa Palicio, and Pastora Galván are some of the nearly 200 artists in singing, playing, dancing, and music who will participate in the IX Malaga Flamenco Art Biennial, organized by the Provincial Council through the company Turismo Costa del Sol.

The president of the Provincial Council, Francisco Salado, presented this new edition of the Biennial in Madrid, during the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR), which will take place between May 27 and August 2 in 25 municipalities of the province, 12 of which have fewer than 20,000 inhabitants.

The Biennial resumes the 2021 format and will stage 38 shows and recitals, 18 of which are world premieres. Among the guest artists are Rocío Molina, Pasión Vega, Manuel Liñán, Alfonso Losa, Carrete, and La Macanita.

Opening Gala

Francisco Salado particularly highlighted the opening gala, which will take place at the Teatro Cervantes in Malaga on May 27, featuring the premiere of 'La Maharaní', by the dancer from Estepona, Luisa Palicio. This show is a co-production by the Biennial and is based on the exciting and novelistic life of Anita Delgado, the Malaga cupletista who became the Maharani of Kapurthala in India.

"Luisa brings an exceptional cast, with five prestigious guest artists such as Pasión Vega, La Macanita, Carrete, El Remache, and Chato de Málaga," informed the president of the Provincial Council, who announced the recipient of this year's Malaga Flamenco Art Biennial Award: Gonzalo Rojo, a journalist, writer, researcher, and president of the Juan Breva Club in various stages.

Another dancer from Malaga, Susana Lupiáñez 'La Lupi', will present her new proposal, 'Lo inédito', a journey she will share on July 25 at the Edgar Neville auditorium, the same venue where Malaga native Ana Almagro, a dancer from the National Ballet, will premiere 'X el amor' on June 12.

A range of artists from the most authentic flamenco enriches the program of the IX Malaga Flamenco Art Biennial. On one hand, on June 28, on the stage of Alcazabilla street in the capital, 'Flamenco de siempre' will feature José de la Tomasa, Vicente Soto 'Sordera', Juana la del Pipa, and Concha Vargas; on the other, on August 1 at the Coín auditorium, Aurora Vargas, Jesús Méndez, Antonio Reyes, and Manuela Carpio -this one dancing- in 'Identidad'.

Closing with 'Soy gitano'

The Biennial will close on August 2 at the Rincón de la Victoria auditorium with a great in-house production, 'Soy gitano', under the musical direction of Jesús Bola, author of the arrangements and musical adaptations. The Biennial's direction has chosen the two most Camarón-like voices of the moment, Duquende and Pedro El Granaíno, accompanied by the dance of Farruquito and the Provincial Symphony Orchestra of Malaga.

The goddess of dance, essential at any flamenco event, will be at the Malaga Biennial. Manuela Carrasco will present 'Dancing to Manuela' on July 26 in Ojén. The master will be honored on stage by dancers Pastora Galván, Gema Moneo, Zamara Carrasco, Manuela Carrasco daughter, and Saray de los Reyes.

The Felipe VI auditorium in Estepona will host the presentation of guitarist Francisco Vinuesa with his own show, 'Journey to the Center of Myself', on July 18, where he will be supported by an ensemble of extraordinary guest artists such as Rocío Molina, Manuel Liñán, Alfonso Losa, and El Remache.

Another guitarist, also from Malaga, proposes a bolder show, 'Mediterranean Sundance'. Rubén Lara will climb San Cristóbal Hill in Vélez-Málaga on June 20, along with Javi Merino and Martín Veredas, to offer the richness of flamenco and jazz with the three guitars.

Ana Fargas and Paco Javier Jimeno will be with 'Fallen Leaves' in Álora, and Isabel Guerrero with 'Peinaora in Almáchar. Meanwhile, dancer Sandra Cisneros will bring María Zambrano to life with 'María de mis entrañas' in Alhaurín el Grande, while the Jerez family of Los Mijita will meet at the Wine Center of Ronda.

The Biennial will tour the least populated towns with the company of dancer José Lucena, who has set up 'Mother Sea' to take it to Campillos and the bullrings of Carratraca and Benamocarra, while the flamenco group of Fátima Navarro will land in Teba with 'Between Your Soul and Mine'.

The Edgar Neville will open the four Thursdays of June to host a dance cycle featuring Carmen Camacho ('The Sea Cannot Die'), Ana Almagro ('X el amor'), Úrsula Moreno ('It Runs in the Family'), and El Farru, Juan de Juan, José Maya, and David Paniagua ('Dancers').

Dancer Luisa Chicano will premiere in Nerja 'From My Soleá'; the Flamenco Theater company will represent 'The Singing Cafés' in Pizarra, and dancer Ana Pastrana will be with 'Zambra' in Alameda.

Instruments as Protagonists

During the presentation, the president of the Provincial Council pointed out that through the Biennial "flamenco opens up to the universal discourse of music, which shows that flamenco is more alive than ever. This edition will feature instruments that enrich our conception of flamenco, without losing a bit of its authenticity."

As examples, he mentioned the classical guitar, electric guitar, piano, cajón, sitar, castanets, harp, violin, flute, bass, saxophone, and church organ. "These instruments will play a significant role in the programming as we can see," he noted.

In this regard, flamenco harp performer Ana Crisman will give a concert in Alhaurín de la Torre alongside singer José Valencia. On the other hand, Bonela son has joined organist Jorge García Martín to offer 'Baroque Flamenco' in churches in Antequera and Macharaviaya.

In addition, a very young pianist from Mallorca, Antón Cortés, will come to the Vélez Museum to pay tribute to Paco de Lucía. In the Ochavada Square of Archidona, eight prominent Andalusian saeteros will meet to walk 'At a Slow Pace' and make this flamenco style grand.

As a preamble to the Biennial, a flamenco mass will take place in the church of Divina Pastora in the Capuchinos neighborhood with liturgical songs through the styles of flamenco in the voice of Antonia Contreras and the playing of Juan Ramón Caro.

The Biennial resumes the 'High Altitude Flamenco' cycle from the AC Málaga Palacio Hotel, and collaborates with the X International Flamenco and Dance Camp Spain for Young Talents, which will take place at the CEULAJ in Mollina, as well as with the International Flamenco Seminar 'City of Malaga'

Finally, Francisco Salado thanked the collaboration of the City Council of Malaga and the municipalities of the province, as well as the Ministry of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía, with which the Provincial Council is pending to close in Mijas the performance of the Andalusian Flamenco Ballet with its new production, 'Blessed Land'.

Tickets will soon be available through the platform mientrada.net.