Sometimes, one plus one doesn't equal two. Sometimes, the sum of five individualities yields more than five. Such is the nature of art, which blows mathematics to smithereens. As a prime example, let's take the show I gave my body Martinicos, which were originally two different but complementary proposals, inspired by an exhibition curated by the French thinker Georges Didi-Huberman, and gathered under the same title: one of the brothers David y Alfredo Lagos, and another one Leonor Leal with Lorca ProjectNow, within the framework of Jerez FestivalThey come together in a single, perfectly rounded show –we dare say– that it doesn't seem like an addition.
The curtain rises with the entire cast on stage. Leonor Leal, from Jerez, stands out, wearing a dress with an oriental flair, seemingly not very... flamencoHis first movements, waving a fan in his hand to play with the suspended smoke, are reminiscent of tai chi gestures. Instantly, David Lagos's voice bursts in, singing the Dance of Death de Federico Garcia Lorca –“This place is not unusual for dancing…”– as the rest of the musicians join in.
The production draws inspiration from the famous conference Theory and game of the duende, presented by the genius from Fuentevaqueros in 1933, although it is only the starting point. From there, there is a whole quest that unites poetry, canteDance and music to explore the territories of emotion, without excluding the (so controversial) emotions inherent in bullfighting as a ceremony of beauty and death. “Like the bull, I was born for mourning,” Lagos’s voice thunders, remembering Miguel Hernández, as he will later remember another renowned bullfighting figure such as José Bergamín.
However, the musical dimension of the production is no less interesting than the literary one. Of course, Lagos's powerful and impeccable voice stands out, which the other day—regarding his participation in the new production of david coria– I described it without hesitation as Morente-esque, which doesn't diminish its personality. Enrique's legacy, in this case his mastery in navigating poems through the rhythmic and harmonic schemes of flamencoIt's a treasure that would be absurd to ignore. And the man from Jerez certainly doesn't.
"A whole quest that combines poetry, canteDance and music to explore the territories of emotion, without excluding the (highly controversial) emotions inherent in bullfighting as a ceremony of beauty and death. “Like the bull, I was born for mourning,” thunders Lagos’s voice.
Then we have the percussionist's prolific creativity Antonio Moreno and the winds of Juan Jimenezwho spend the entire performance enriching the ensemble with more or less eccentric sounds, from bells and cowbells to a horn used as a wind instrument. But it's not about mixing instruments for the mere whim of mixing, a formula that in flamenco It seems almost exhausted, but rather to find truly new sounds for secular music.
In this respect, he played his role very well. Manuel valenciaAlfredo Lagos's replacement on guitar. The guitarist needs no introduction in his homeland, but I think it's worth mentioning that he's one of the great accompanists for the cante and the dance of the moment, always contributing details full of taste and depth.
And what about Leonor Leal, who also repeated after a Gala for the 30th anniversary of the Jerez Festival in which she shone brightly, and she did so again on this occasion with her best qualities: sobriety, neatness, restraint, complete control of her body, but also a powerful flamenco flair when the occasion warrants it.
With all these elements, the show went from strength to strength, with a wonderful Romance of the Moon Moon –How is it possible that Federico continues to move us so much, even in his most well-worn verses?– surpassed even by the soleá, to end with tangos invoking those little martins of the title, the domestic goblins of southern culture that by then must have been running around like crazy throughout the auditorium.
Credits
I gave my body Martinicosby David Lagos and Leonor Leal with Proyecto Lorca
XXX Jerez Festival
Blas Infante Center of Jerez
March 6th 2026
Cante: David Lagos
Dance: Leonor Leal
Saxophone: Juan Jiménez (Lorca Project)
Percussion: Antonio Moreno (Lorca Project)
Guitar: Manuel Valencia
