Earlier this month, I attended the 2012 Flamenco Festival and witnessed a trio of amazing performances from three supremely talented Spanish Bailaoras: Carmen Cortés, Rafaela Carrasco and Olga Pericet.  This has become an annual rite for me; an event I eagerly circle on my calendar.  Ever since the time I first experienced the Flamenco art form in its native Andalucía back in 2005, I’ll jump at any chance to revisit the real article. You see, like a Spanish schoolboy smitten by the fluttering eyes of a lovely Senorita, I was captivated at first glance.

 

I happened to be in Jerez, in the heart of sherry country, visiting many of the best bodegas and sampling their wonderful wines: Royal Corregidor Old Oloroso at Sandeman’s, Apóstoles Palo Cortado at González Byass, East India Solera at Lustau.  It was April and the scent of lemon trees along the Avenida tantalized my senses.  I recall an azure-blue afternoon, barrel sampling La Ina Fino at Castillo de Macharnudo, eating real Paella with Beltran Domecq and then walking through the vineyard, the crunch-crunch of the white Albariza soil crackling under my shoes.

 

It was my first taste of real tapas too: Jamón Ibérico, Croquettas, Marcona Almonds, Manchego, Gambas a la Plancha.  After an elegant dinner hosted by Javier Medina at Williams & Humbert, I took in my first Flamenco performance.  It inspired a hundred feelings that evening.  What passion!  Spanish artists refer to this as duende.  Loosely translated, it means “having soul”. 

It is said that Flamenco is gypsy in its origins but also reflects Moorish, Jewish and Castilian influences.  Its three cornerstones are the Cante (song), the Toque (guitar) and the Baile (dance).  The Cante presents its hauntingly anguished wail, the Toque its poignant, picado riffs and the Baile is flourishing and expressive.  Add to these the syncopated clapping (palmas), finger snaps (pintos) and foot tapping and you have a fiesta of duende, its patina of emotions laid bare.  I was hooked.  Olé!!!

I fast forward to a couple of weeks ago and a memorable evening at the Arsht Center in Miami.  The event was billed as Estrellas del Flamenco: Dancing to Lorca, a tribute to the renowned Spanish poet.  Some of the music selections were adapted from Federico García Lorca’s Canciones Populares.  The performances were simply brilliant.  They left me wanting more.

Post-performance, I retreated back to the house.  Although it was late, I couldn’t resist a chilled glass of La Gitana Manzanilla, a few slices of Jamón Serrano and a little Paco de Lucía on my iPod. 

Jim Greeley, Wine Supervisor, SW Florida

BTW, here’s a link to some pictures from the performance from worldredeye.com:

http://worldredeye.com/2012/03/flamenco-festival/

And just in case you wanted to get an idea of how phenomenal Olga Pericet is, here’s a YouTube video featuring her at Casa Patas (a great cabaret venue) last year in Madrid:

UPDATE: Oops. It appears the original link didn't load to the correct video. Try this one:

http://t.co/34qbInkY