With the Old Public Market With a half-capacity audience and a respectful and devoted audience, the guitarist welcomed us with his tarantas, stripped down, with a clean, melodic, and strong touch. Once he'd settled in, he embraced the rumbas, the kind with a commercial chorus that hooks the audience and unleashes the artist, who sought the complicity of his cast by introducing them to the Union fans in a musical way.
Antonio Rey I knew what was coming, I had been waiting for this moment for twenty years, without knowing if it would come. Who knows when they will remember that moment again? Bordon Minero of 2003, who has returned to La Unión with two Latin Grammys and the enthusiasm of that little boy. He had it clear and joined forces for almost two hours with artists who know his ways, highlighting the Alicante bass of Joshua El Ronkio and the flute of John Grill.
He continued with joys with the Cañaílla Street and got tangled up in tangos that his sister Mara Rey He raised his voice with substance and power. Sometimes the pieces seem gimmicky, and at other times they are far removed from what we are used to hearing, although Antonio Rey's thirst has been quenched by the maestro's rhythmic touches. Paco de Lucía and the melodic and more personal touches a Vicente Friend halfway with Manolo SanlucarThe guitarist who is currently starring in the most media-friendly and controversial festival on the scene flamenco He moves closer to and further from the established canon based on his character. Because sometimes, what matters is how things are said, not how they really are. And Rey knows how to convey the idea without unraveling the tangle or revealing the trick.
He needs privacy again to face the mining and leans forward in his chair alone, like someone about to confess, remaining alone and close to the breath of a devoted audience that listens to him, taking note of his neatness.
"Bravo to La Unión, who remembered the guitar. Bravo to Antonio Rey, who gave his naked truth to a devoted audience. And bravo to the flamenco, although sometimes they don't take care of it as it really deserves"
Through bulerías the whole picture appears with palmas in time, accompanying his sonanta with joy, as a prelude to the party of the flamenco what are you Stories of a flamenco It has to count. Each one with their own string, with Juan Parrilla standing out, crowning each performance with his quality and flamenco flair.
In the final part of the recital comes one of the most anticipated moments, the presence on stage of the patriarch Tony Rey, who accompanies his son already Manuel Heredia, performing a heartfelt and discreet bolero with three guitars.
Some tangos followed. put away As a farewell, the protagonist was more relaxed and cheerful. And after a prolonged round of applause, he wanted to remember Paco de Lucía by going through the Cadiz master's most renowned pieces, in case anyone was still missing out.
Thus ends a show of long duration but with truly honest intentions from one of the guitarists. flamencowith the best qualities in flamenco today, on a first night with few people and little interest despite the festival's intentions to stay in the ranking of the depth.
Bravo for The Union, who remembered the guitar.
Bravo to Antonio Rey, who gave his naked truth to a devoted audience.
And bravo for him flamenco, although sometimes they do not take care of it as it really deserves.
Credits
Stories of a flamenco, by Antonio Rey
LXIV International Festival of Cante of the Mines
Old Public Market of La Unión (Murcia)
August 1th, 2025
Lead guitar: Antonio Rey
Second guitar: Manuel Heredia
Percussion: Alex Fernández 'El Negro'
Flute: Juan Parrilla
Bass: Josué 'El Ronkio'
Choirs and palmas: Jonatan Luna and Raúl Obregón
Special collaboration: Tony Rey on guitar and Mara Rey on cante
