Susan's excited for this weeks Flamenco Festival!

I am especially excited for our annual Flamenco Festival this week!  I always look forward to the performances. I relish in the passion and exuberance of the artists and also in the contagious energy of our ever-enthusiastic flamenco audience. Our first Flamenco Festival was back in 2000 and featured the companies of Manuel Soler and Carmen Cortéz.  Over the past 14 years, I’ve gotten to see such a wide range of flamenco, from Sara Baras’s contemporary interpretations to Farruquito y Familia’s more traditional approach.  And of course, I will never forget the ultimate artistry of Paco de Lucía, whom we had the privilege to present seven times.  His first performance with us was in 1993 at the Berklee Performance Center, and tragically, his last was at the Boston Opera House in 2012.  The legacy of this incredible musician will certainly be in my heart during the festival this year and beyond.  

But why am I especially excited for this year’s festival?  While I really do think it will be one our best, it’s also because I am finally planning to go to Spain for the first time in June with my 14-year old son.  I am just beginning to plan the trip and would love your suggestions.  Right now, I think we will fly into Madrid, take a day trip to Toledo, trains to Seville, Grenada, Valencia and fly home from Barcelona.  While I know I could spend months exploring this great country, I’ll have to cut it to a short two weeks or so.  Please comment below with any favorite hotels, restaurants, experiences or advice! 

Please see a list of the past Flamenco Festival’s we’ve presented over the past 14 years.  Please feel free to comment below with any corrections. Which were your favorites?  Who is missing that you’d like us to present?  

FLAMENCO FESTIVAL HISTORY

2000
Compañía de Danza Flamenco Carmen Cortés featuring dancers Carmen Cortés and Rafael del Carmen
Compañía Manuel Soler featuring dancers Manuel Soler, Juana Amaya, Fernando Romero, Israel Galván 

2001
Compañia María Pagés 
Farruquito y Familia

2002
Ballet Flamenco Eva Yerbabuena
Flamenco de Andalucía featuring El Güito, Manuela Carrasco, María Pagés, Israel Galván, Manuel Soler
Ballet Flamenco Antonio Canales

2003
Juana Amaya & Farruquito
Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras

2004
Compañía Andaluza de Danza
Ballet Falmenco Sara Baras

2005
The Four Elements featuring Carmen Cortés, Alejandro Granados, Carlos Rodríquez, Rocío Molina, and guest artist Gerardo Núñez
Flamenco de Camara featuring Mayte Martín and Belén Maya Company

2006
Noche Flamenca featuring Soledad Bario
Nuevo Ballet Español

2007
Paco de Lucía Septet
Compañía Rafaela Carrasco

2008
Ballet Flamenco Eva Yerbabuena
Noche Flamenca & Soledad Barrio

2009
Isabel Bayon Company
Noche Flamenca & Soledad Barrio

2010 
Noche Flamenca & Soledad Barrio
Gala Flamenca featuring Pastora Galván, Manuel Liñán, Belén Lópes, Rocío Molina

Fall Flamenco Festival 2010 –Gypsy  Roots of Flamenco 
Angelita Vargas & Jairo Barrul 
Pepe Torres & Company with special guest Juan de Gastor

2012
Compañía Rafaela Carrasco
Compañía Olga Pericet

2013
Paco Peña Flamenco Dance Company
Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía

In addition to the Flamenco Festival, we have presented the following artists in concerts of their own:

Vicente Amigo
Carmen Linares
Paco de Lucia
Enrique Morenta
Noche Flamenca
Compañia María Pagés

(Photo of Stars of Flamenco, March 8 & 9 at the Berklee Performance Center. Get tickets at www.WorldMusic.org)
-Susan