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Ole! I am moving to Andalucía. I am feeling passionate and my
whole being is exhilarated. What a show! Ole!
Paco Pena, the musical director and real star of the show,
grew up in the Andalucian city of Cordoba where he learnt to play the guitar.
He arrived in London during the swinging sixties where he has performed at many
top music venues and is now world renown for his fast-paced finger flamenco guitar
playing. Pena has collaborated with Jude Kelly, the director, over the years,
culminating in this performance of 'Solera'. It is wonderful to see that Pena is
still performing and was relishing every moment on the Sadler's Wells stage.
Pure flamenco has three elements – the guitar, the singing,
and the dancing. On stage were three dancers, two singers, three guitarists
(one of whom is Paco Pena) and a percussionist. I thought it would be an
evening of just dance, but I was so wrong. I am completely in awe and wrapped
up in the passion and sensuality of the whole evening. A standing ovation was
not enough to show the audience’s real appreciation.
The golden age of flamenco, in Spain, was between 1780-1845
and today is fully entrenched in Spanish tradition. Singing is one of the three
fundamental elements of flamenco known as ‘cante jondo'. Performed on stage by
Inmaculada (Inma) Rivera and Ivan Carpio. Rivera has an amazing vocal range and
the passion and feeling expressed by her and Carpio was the driving force/rhythm
of the evening. Originally flamenco was only about the singing but the
introduction of the guitar and clapping historically, brought it into a wider
dimension. The team on stage following flamenco tradition cheered each other on
with shouts of ‘Ole’ and ‘asi se canta’ and ‘asi se baila’ meaning that is the
way to sing or that is the way to dance. I was so engrossed in what was
happening on stage, that I was desperate to shout ‘Ole.’
Paco Pena and the guitarists Dani de Moron and Rafael
Montilla were simply outstanding. Playing their guitars at such a pace and
watching their hands and fingers moving so swiftly and elegantly over the
strings. Pena, himself aged seventy-three, performing nightly to this
standard is beyond comprehension. The music was beautiful, passionate and
exhilarating. The flamenco guitar makes you want to dance and tap along – last
night I was so deeply touched by the sound. On percussion was Julio Alcocer –
another Paco Pena handpicked musician. His pace and timing absolutely
complementing the guitars and dancers. Culminating in his own solo in the
second half of the show – mesmerising.
At this point I must mention the wonderful dancers; the
beautiful Adriana Bilbao, the incredible Gabriel Matias, and the maestro Angel
Muñoz,
who is a long-standing Paco Pena collaborator. What is it about flamenco that
is so sensual and passionate? These three personify everything about the art of
flamenco dance. From putting on the stacked shoes their whole bodies transform
into other worldly shapes. The movement of the hands and arms are silkily rhythmic,
and the arching of their backs is simply gorgeous and deeply erotic. The
muscles used in the legs are so highly aware of the sounds that the pace is frenetic
and the feet moving are almost invisible– like the beating of an insect’s wings
– imperceivable. But the sounds that emanated tell you that they are moving, and the
change of the body movements lets you know that the feet are beating at a tempo
beyond anything conceivable. The show builds into a crescendo with all nine
performers on stage doing what each does best and owning their own part. This
is one of the best performances I have seen at Sadlers Wells over the years and
Paco Pena in conjunction with Jude Kelly, who directed the performance must be
thoroughly congratulated on an ultimate triumph.
The title name 'Solera' is from the wine barrels in Andalucía
where the old wine improves the young wine. This was an evening of young and
experienced performers working together to achieve the best result. The older experienced
generation teaching and handing down the tradition of flamenco to the young and
upcoming talent. Flamenco is a marvel and steeped in such history. It is
amazing to discover that General Franco, the Spanish dictator, had tried to
ban flamenco as it was seen as a rebellion and protest when being performed in
the region of Andalucía. Flamenco is a marvel – it is strong, it is passionate
and 'Solera' is Spain at its finest.
If you cannot get to see Paco Pena’s Solera, then London is
having a Flamenco Festival in June so I recommend you look out for more shows
of this amazing art.
Reviewer - Penny Curran
on - 20.4.22
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