It's the most established festival in the entire province of Granada. They treat the artistic aspects with the utmost care, as if they were delicate porcelain. The same cannot be said for the sound, which year after year either enhances or detracts from the overall experience. Each year, the backdrop of the immense stage area where the artists perform changes. This year, 2026, they've hit the nail on the head with a large slogan on the back, highlighting the phrase 'Cante flamenco'which also invited us to enjoy a light show that enhanced the stage's scale.
As every year, a great figure is honored. flamenco And this year it's the genius's turn Henry Morente. Therefore, the president of his foundation, José Manuel Medina, He was invited and spoke with words of thanks, focusing on Enrique's feeling of being a flamenco aficionado and noting that he has been both a classical flamenco singer and a singer of the future. The mayor, in his now traditional welcoming speech, thanked the audience and invited us to enjoy the evening.
The official ceremonies were completed, and the atmosphere was filled with a desire to enjoy the show because the artistic cast was top-notch and the audience's feelings of enjoyment were palpable. in crescendo.
the presenter José Antonio Corpas, As she has done for several years, she performed her work in a poetic style, that is, she introduced the artists by reciting glosses and poems that assessed the artistic quality of each of them, also including other poems of her own creation in some of the transitions. Dressed in a yellow suit and sequins, she kicked things off with a brief dance prelude. Fuensanta La Moneta y Mark Palogoals to the beat of granaínas while reciting some verses.
La Peña Flamenca The Yerbabuena, which is the heart and soul of the festival, featured for the opening with Antonia contreras, who came with his faithful squire and enormous guitarist Juan Ramon CaroShe is almost from the peñabecause his relationship with his partners goes beyond the artistic. He saw himself reflected in Morente with The Little Shepherd, poem by San Juan de la Cruz which set to music the Ronco from Albaicín so masterfully. However, it was surprising to see Antonia with a cheat sheet behind her fan, bearing the lyrics of the poem.
He sang malagueñas and fandango de Peppermint Bottle, which he missed a couple of times, a long set of tangos, seguiriyas and fandangos.
"Ezequiel Benítez captivated more than a thousand people when he performed some classic bulerías, songs by Chozas and Manolito de María, and others with personal lyrics that are catchy, witty, easygoing, and provocative, which resonate through their direct and straightforward message and which provoked the biggest ovation of the night. That's something!"
The man from Jerez followed. Jesus Mendez accompanied by the guitar of Pepe del Morao and palmas de Diego Montoya y Manuel SaladoHe brought to his repertoire alegrías, soleá, seguiriyas, and bulerías from his homeland. Jesús is a sure bet wherever he goes and is a prestigious figure for his profound artistry and personality. He sounds phenomenal and is one of the best representatives of the cante from Jerez of his generation. In his case, Pepe del Morao is on his level, recognizing in him his lineage and the trend of his signature style in a 21st-century version. How he remembered the short bulería, of The Lebrijano or Luis de la Pica! Tremendous performance at the foot of the stage without a microphone, with absolute dedication.
Another man from Jerez was the one who came out on top. He was the only one capable of getting the crowd on their feet in unison. flamenco As well as being charismatic, he is the creator of almost all of his lyrics and likes to provoke the present with his humorous or profound lyrics in equal measure. Ezequiel Benitez along with Paco León They treated us to soleá, alegrías, a personal malagueña dedicated to a recently deceased friend, and fandangos caracoleros and de The GloryHe captivated more than a thousand people when he performed some classic bulerías, from the Huts, de Manolito from Maria And others with personal lyrics that are catchy, as I said, playful, easygoing, and provocative, which resonate through their direct and straightforward message and which provoked the biggest ovation of the night. Quite something! And there was even a unanimous request for who also came through bulerías.
As is tradition, this festival includes dancing. And La Moneta from Granada raised the bar high with her soleá performance. She didn't need to use her feet to stand out and prove anything, because with just her body and face she was able to dance the cante de Sergio the Redhead y Juan Ángel Tirado, Two of the singers who best accompany the dance today. La Moneta was solemn, lending stillness and poise to every gesture, every movement of her arms and shoulders, drawing on the tradition of Granada with an imprint that deserves to be learned. Special mention for Mark Palogoals, She's getting better at dancing every day, a fact that's becoming increasingly evident over time. Something to keep in mind.
Jerez was more than present on stage tonight. Maria Terremoto opted to remember Lole montoya along with Nono Jero and its palmeros of all time, which are the glory of the rhythm: Juan Diego Valencia y Manuel CantaroteShe sang malagueñas, rondeñas, and fandangos by Frasquito Yerbabuena, which she should rework. She continued with tangos and bulerías.
The closing act of the festival, which has been one of the best in recent years for many reasons, was performed by Pedro the GranaínoAccompanied by his inseparable Antonio Patrocinio and the violin of Rosa Escobar, He sang a half-granaína ending with a fandango, followed by tangos, a vidalita, the Requiem de Vicente Friend and a closing with bulerías.
One of the best nights in recent years in Ogíjares, which ended with a closing party with some of the participants alongside local artists Jose Cortés the Indian y Eva Esquivel.
Credits
XLVII National Festival of Cante from Ogíjares
Ogijares, Granada
5 September 2026
CanteAntonia Contreras, Jesús Méndez, Ezequiel Benítez, Pedro el Granaíno, Sergio el Colorao, Juan Ángel Tirado, María Terremoto
Guitar: Juan Ramón Caro, Pepe del Morao, Paco León, Marcos Palogoals, Antonio Patrocinio, Nono Jero
Violin: Rosa Escobar
Dance: Fuensanta La Moneta
PalmasDiego Montoya, Manuel Salado, Juan Diego Valencia, Manuel Cantarote
