John Grill He is one of those who know and understand that music, beyond what is read and studied, is the score of feelings. Thus he declared his flute, alongside his brother's violin. Bernard in that Inheritance with which she has performed at the María Luisa Theatre, within the events of IV Festival Flamenco of MeridaI don't know to what extent the brothers need to showcase a legacy that's already their own. It seems more like what it is: a tailor-made performance for the festival. That's fine. It's always a pleasure to see such virtuosity on stage, even if it's not a finished work, nor has it been given more time than necessary. They don't need to.
But where did the Parrilla brothers want to take us? To a three-dimensional state. A dreamlike journey through elegance, quality, and gypsy spirit. To a communion with inspiration and creativity.
Duquende, guest artist, led us on the back of the Nana of the Big Horse de LorcaWe remained enveloped in that kaleidoscopic space that was created between the distinction of the strings of Juan Parrilla's son, Manu Fernández, the taste of José Heredia 'El Gato' to the piano and synthesizers, and the constant and sustained percussion of Raphael RamosEverything invited contemplation, enjoyment. The stage presence of the entire cast kept the audience engaged and captivated.
Juan Parrilla, generous at all times, let Bernardo's violin play tanguillos, introducing his brother as his "master." The Jerez native receives little recognition for an instrument from which he knows how to extract rhythm and depth.
A Chinese flute allowed the piece to grow My beautiful seed in the delicacy of Juan, who never abandoned his melodious voice in his sparse words, nor did he cease to conduct, which was nothing more than the enjoyment of the artists in that Inheritance, in that moment shared before the public.
Duquende welcomed us into that torrent of voice where depth and a melancholic undertone combine, to take us this time to the piece of Jose Feliciano y Leonardo Shultz, I spend my life thinkingWe continued to float between reality and dreams.
"It was like crossing a sonic threshold into a dream world. An elegant, sophisticated evening, without pretension or fuss. An evening of enjoyment and imagination. Like a journey. Like a dream."
Inheritance It's not a show, it's a meeting between brothers that the public has the pleasure of enjoying. A vehicle through which to explore desire and wisdom.
Juan Parrilla had the good sense to remember the flamencos from Extremadura. One of the great ones, from Porrina, Kaíta, Juan Cantero, Miguel VargasBut he highlighted that youth and proven mastery of Ostalinda Suarezwho, always elegant, and among the audience, never ceased to admire and enjoy the man he considers his mentor. That new talent that Juan Parrilla highlighted in the flamenco From the earth she poured it upon Ostalinda's children: Ángela, Juan, and Paco. Even as children, they already show promise and excel with the flute, cello, and piano.
On one occasion, Juan Parrilla told me that “in the flamenco "Sensitivity cannot be taught." Indeed, it cannot be learned, but it can be displayed. That is why one must attend theaters, festivals, and... peñaYes, where everything is revealed. For better or for worse.
They closed the show with Caravan, Duke Ellington, a gypsy jazz version, as they assured, to continue intertwining those elements that knew how to weave an experience in a dreamlike world.
During those moments, Parrilla showed that it wasn't all intuition, lineage, or Jerez for the sake of being Jerez, but that it all required many hours of listening, learning, and sleepless nights.
The cast made it clear that they need very little to demonstrate their mastery on stage. Because the flamenco It offers relief, yes, but it also suffocates. "Anything you delve deeply into is complicated," the Jerez maestro once assured me during an interview. Last night he offered us relief and allowed us to breathe that air that grew expansive on that journey woven between his instruments.
It was like stepping through a sonic threshold into a dream world. An elegant, sophisticated evening, without pretension or fuss. An evening of enjoyment and imagination. Like a journey. Like a dream.
Credits
Juan Parrilla and Bernardo Parrilla: from Jerez to Extremadura
IV Festival Flamenco of Merida
María Luisa Theater, Mérida
November 1th 2025
Flute: Juan Parrilla
Violin: Bernardo Parrilla
Piano: José Heredia, 'El Gato'
Percussion: Rafael Ramos
Electric guitar: Manu Fernández
Capacity: 3/4
