Last year I gave a lecture at the festival that Miguel Moran He organizes in his Bierzo region, in PonferradaThis year it wasn't possible, but they kindly invited me to spend time with them, and after I finished my work obligations, off I went, since I live about 300 km away and the flamencoThose who gathered there for this edition were mostly good and old friends, and I gladly accepted the invitation.
It started on Wednesday, July 22nd, but I couldn't go until Friday. I missed the Wednesday and Thursday programs. When I arrived at the hotel at noon on Friday, I found my dear friend at the door. Estrella Morentewho had triumphed the day before. I hadn't seen her for several years and, as always so affectionate, we spent some time reminiscing about the many experiences we had shared with her father. Enrique when she was just a child. I know from her classmates that her concert was very well received.
As soon as I arrived, I immediately contacted my "cousin" Jose Manuel Gamboa and I headed to the Cultural ThermalThe imposing building where all the festival activities take place. A book and exhibition by my admired Argentinian photographer were being presented. Pepe LamarcaAs soon as I arrived, he said to me: wait, Faustino, let me show you the exhibition Camarón 75 anniversaryAnd he guided me photo by photo, telling me the story behind each one. A real treat. Gamboa introduced it, and we had a very pleasant time. The book, published by Circle Flamenco MadridIt's a delight and highly recommended. There I met, among many other friends, José María Velázquez-Gaztelu, José Manuel Gómez Gufi, Paco Manzano, Ana Palma, Fermín Lobatón, Sara Arguijo, David Montes, Teo Sánchez y Rafa Alvero, among others.
In the afternoon, Pepote from Huelva He offered a cajón workshop for a bunch of students. One was raffled off and it went to someone from Vigo! That night he ran to tell me: "I have no idea how to play it, but starting tomorrow I'm going to start banging away!"
Then Fermín Lobatón and Amalia Vilches They presented Velázquez-Gaztelu's latest book of poems, entitled Just one step away, in which the author, with that familiar voice that all fans know from his Classical Radio program Our Flamenco, who has been on the air for 42 uninterrupted years, recited some of the beautiful poems contained in the volume.
Night fell and in the enormous turbine hall of the power plant, packed to capacity (more than two thousand chairs), the audience waited impatiently, eager to hear Jose from Tomato and his group. The young guitarist from Almería, son of the great Jose Fernandez Torres TomatitoHe offered a recital full of good music, his own compositions and an unmistakable signature style, the style that once led me to title the text that his father asked me for for the first album of "El Niño", Old Square, from 2018, Like father, like sonAnd we were able to verify that this is still the case, although with increasingly more personality.
"Torombo poured his style into alegrías. La Repompa did the same with tarantos. And Pepe Torres, of course, with soleá. It had been many years since I'd seen Pepe, and I confirmed, once again, why he remains one of my favorite flamenco dancers. A real treat."
The night culminated with FarruquitoThe audience went wild, as usual, with each flourish. The powerful Jerez guitar of Manuel valencia He gave it his all and raised the atmosphere to its peak. Juan then picked up the guitar and brought to a close a triumphant performance that we all acknowledged with long ovations.
Afterwards, we played some foosball in a gothic bar and, as always, had a great laugh. At breakfast, we had a pleasant chat with Teo Sánchez and Pepe Lamarca. And at noon, we enjoyed a tasting of local wines, illustrated by the maestro who was going to give us his recital that evening. Archangel, with the guitar of Francis CruzadoAlmost nothing. Then it was time for the presentation of the books of Owlswho told us about his flamenco life and was left without a single copy. They flew off the shelves.
Saturday afternoon began with a round table discussion on journalism flamenco with Gamboa, Lobatón and Arguijo, moderated by José María Velázquez. We learned a lot.
The evening session began with a carefully crafted (although according to them, improvised) performance by the great Torombo, seconded by the great Pepe Torres placeholder image y The RepompaI loved it from the very beginning. The guitar and singers were introduced one by one, their entrances seamlessly blending together, until the three dancers filled the stage. They opened with bulerías. Torombo showcased his style with alegrías. La Repompa did the same with tarantos, and Pepe Torres, of course, with soleá. It had been many years since I'd seen Pepe, and I realized, once again, why he remains one of my favorite dancers. A real treat.
Arcángel closed the night with Francis's touch. He gifted us a bouquet of classic coplas interspersed with cantes por derecho, seguiriya, caña, soleares. The audience thoroughly enjoyed themselves and applauded enthusiastically.
The cool night in Ponferrada, and the festival, culminated with DJ Gufi...getting everyone dancing. That's as far as I got. I had a wonderful time, with so many friends and such high-quality art. Long live Bierzo al toque, which one day will have to be added to the cante and the dance in the name of the Festival. ♦
