He no longer has anything to prove. Over seventy years old, he wears the big bell that resides in his throat. Master of masters. He still stuns the most seasoned singer, performing for the dance without heels in sight. That's how he came to the Peña Flamenca Torres MacarenaWith just his booming, commanding voice, he scored nine. canteAnd a grand finale. From the moment she opened her mouth, she poured her heart out as if her life depended on it. And with the responsibility and respect that only the stage inspires. Enrique the Extremaduran He messed things up again, reaffirming his authority in the cante And in the rhythm, from where he entered and exited, playing with the times like a blind magician who by touch smells where there is a closure or knows through which corner to slip, wait or pin the pellizco that overflows with cheers from a discerning audience. He knows every corner where to make the turn. And just as in the dance they close with flourishes, Enrique pronounces and commands, making the gesture pointing with his fingers, there as he falls, in the exact spot to cut short the lament and overwhelm the audience with pleasure and profound emotion. Blessed be he!They are sorely missed in the flamenco the round shakes, that dig their nails in, even though that's all very well. cante pretty! The man from Extremadura doesn't understand a single performance without giving it his all. He's not a singer of half measures. You either like him or you don't. But he gives it his all on the stage and sees who can outshine him. He shines brightest when he's powerful, but he also knows how to sway, searching for the sensitivity in the lower registers. Flamenco Powerful and genuine, a singer of one piece, a cyclone of great cries… he locked himself in the temple of art in Seville and offered a memorable recital with courage and bare chest, giving away his mastery in torrents.
The palmas They were top-notch, drawing the sound of Lebrija to Las 3000. Juan Diego Valencia, probably the best at what he does, and The PeteteThe dancer and palmero, of undeniable talent, paved the dark paths along which Enrique's voice flowed. All of this was enveloped by a guitar of exquisite detail, with dizzying flourishes, an incredible sound, bass strings that weighed a ton, and basketfuls of deep, soulful falsetas and original touches in the composition. A guitarist who accompanies without intruding, picking up at opportune moments, seasoning his accompaniment without forgetting a transitional tone. Overflowing with technique and rhythm, brimming with resources, with passion and knowledge of the cante. Antonio Santiago Ñoño He carried his father on his shoulders to the gates of glory.
"Enrique El Extremeño stirred things up again, reaffirming his authority in the cante And in the rhythm, from where he entered and exited, playing with the times like a blind magician who by touch smells where there is a closure or knows through which corner to slip, wait or pin the pellizco that overflows with the waves of a truly dedicated public."
I like it when a flamenco singer explains what he does. He began with trilla, toná chica, martinete, and corrido, finishing with the seguiriyas closing of that brown bread which makes me feel like I'm in the air The LebrijanoAlthough many recorded it, it was overwhelmingly powerful. flamenco from the moment he stepped onto the sun-baked wooden floors of the peñaHe strung it all together later with romance, leisurely and overflowing with substance. It softened in the first body of the woman from Malaga. The Twin And he bravely pushed forward in the second, adding a triad of abandolaos that gradually increased the tempo. They say that this Malaga variant doesn't suit it. But one forgets the canon when it's sung so well. He continued with tremendous force through cantiñas, where he added colorful garlands to the canteHe's from Cádiz, flirting with silences and recreating the lyrics of a repertoire I've heard him perform a hundred times, and he never does it the same way twice. Enrique is a jack-of-all-trades, like everyone else, but when he filters it through his voice, it becomes his own, unique and personal. He's a real catch in some... palos de Salazar y The CañetaIt also draws from the lands of Extremadura, from The Nougat MakerEl Lebrijano… but he always sounds like himself. And how he did it in Levante! After a prelude of Ñoño's six syrupy strings that left him with the silks ready for the tuning, he linked taranto and the canteearly mornings that he loves to do in honor of The Hen and he remembered Persecution. That's the first part. Five.
Plus four more and a grand finale made a total of ten cantes in the recital, which continued with tientos tangos, with lyrics from those he collected on his latest album 50 years cante And a cartridge of tangos for delight. The soleá por bulerías to make you tear your hair out. He paid tribute to his cradle singing jaleos and formed the taco por bulerías locking the door with the cuplé of Crazy Heart and its little age kick included. The family of La Parreña, Second Falcon y Kotoha Setoguchi They went up to the grand finale, which you can see and judge below. It was the icing on the cake.
Enrique El Extremeño made my heart flutter again. It caused me to burn my seat and to let out a string of "oles" out of amateurish incontinence. Otherwise, how could I write about these things? The die-hards went to the Attila Let's keep celebrating the night, overflowing with joy, with the high that Uncle Enrique gives you, fully charged. Yes, I like it. So what? I loved El Extremeño, his mastery and his guts.
Credits
Recital by Enrique El Extremeño
Peña Flamenca Torres Macarena, Seville
January 24, 2026
Cante: Enrique the Extremaduran
Guitar: Antonio Santiago 'Ñoño'
Palmas: Juan Diego Valencia and Antonio Amaya El Petete
