When you know what you're getting into, all that's left is enjoyment. If the opportunity arises. And it did. Because the Choral guitar de Yerai Cortes It was quite a spectacle. If only I had been so determined to prepare my brain to attend a guitarist's concert. flamenco As an instrumentalist, I would have come with disappointment written all over my face. But he filled me with joy with a cool flamenco performance. I was seduced by Yerai's great vibe, the choirs, and a drone.
It wasn't about stringing one piece to another to showcase the virtuosity of the bass guitar, as any other guitarist might have done before an audience. Nor did he try to demonstrate his knowledge of three thousand harmonic chords. With a few falsetas borrowed from the guitar masters, absolute command of timing, rhythm, and silences… and the audacity of someone who couldn't care less about ostentation. For the sheer pleasure of playing in bursts of age, he spent an hour and a half on the wooden instruments and it felt too short.Dizzying strums, a musicality that straddles the line between the old-fashioned and the fresh, and a sharp, furious thumb were the ingredients that colored his conceptual discourse on the six strings. All of this was linked to the prominence—sometimes excessive—of a chorus of women dressed in white who, simulating the ritual of revelry and the uproar of flamenco parties where the lyrics are chanted and the guitars are played. palmas Regardless of who does it better or worse, he justified the title of the work and gave it argumentative meaning.
Although without knowing the story behind the award-winning documentary The flamenco guitar of Yerai Cortés The performance would still be a plus, but sitting in the stands confirming what the film narrates is an added bonus. Yerai composed from his own experiences and with a purpose. And the message of his guitar could be seen written on his face and in each of his notes.
"A minimalist and humorous show, without straying from the norms of flamencoMaking it digestible, approachable, without superfluous embellishments that seek to create a specific effect. (...) Without selling out to commercialism simply to make something that fills the fridge, but with its ingredients well arranged."
The overhead lighting illuminated the space where the events unfolded throughout the night. The choir and Yerai began with a distinctive verdiales style. It then seemed to connect with malagueña, farruca –superb–, and bolero. Perhaps de Nat King Cole, joys –sparkling–, the What a fuss, bulerías –one with a Lebrija flavor–, seguiriya, rumbas and tangos, most of them present on his album, with some interruptions of voice-overs of testimonies that appear in the documentary.
The simplicity of the staging shone through because nothing more was needed: a flash of light, the seats, the guitarist's chair, and the smokeMicrophones aside, of course. Rhythm and anticipation were fundamental to the performance. So was the profound silence of those listening to the story. Tremolos, flourishes, and muted notes. Plenty of rhythm and originality. Yerai and the girls, clearly enjoying themselves, shared their sorrows and joys with the audience. Their sensitivity and delight were palpable. They created a minimalist and playful spectacle, without straying too far from the established norms. flamencoMaking it digestible, approachable, without superfluous embellishments that seek an effect beyond what the proposal itself achieves. Not selling out to commercialism simply to make something that fills the fridge, but with its ingredients well arranged.
Yerai stopped here the galloping and unbridled path that the guitar is taking today He pointed out that with a resounding pulse of clear, seemingly simple melodies—but only simplistic—dispensing with indigestible harmonies and imbuing his playing with the drone, he can give the guitar a delightful makeover that will bring a flood of admirers to the prized instrument. From the festive, the choral, the sing-song rhythm… and the rustic and essential pleasures of the cypress, he dazzled with subtleties and a wealth of detail. jondoThey weren't things that scratched or hurt, but rather eased sorrows. That's what it's also about.
Credits
Choral Guitarby Yerai Cortés
Andalusia.Flamenco
Central Theatre, Seville
November 30th 2025
Guitar: Yerai Cortés
Choirs and palmasMacarena Campos, Salomé Ramírez, María Reyes, Elena Crespo, Nerea Domínguez and Marina Medina
