Flamenco’s newest form delights audience

Press, 8 April 1978, Page 4

Flamenco’s newest form delights audience

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Throughout the #rst half of Paco Perio 5 “Flairten-o Puro” concert, in the Town Hall last evening I yearned to hear Pena and his ftHou guitarist, without the distraction of the castanets, stamping feet. Io rm delight. Pena opened the second half with two soiu. lowed by a duet with Garr*enco suitar. he said, was* I’ had onlv been recognised t\elf had been aruund for

What Paco Pena's group was presenting was the history of flamenco in sung,: rhythm, and dance form. Flamenco began with the singer, a man, whose wavering sound evolved from the Arab influence in Spain’s history. He was originally > accompanied by rhythmicclapping and stamping of the feet: The only “instruments” | the tlamenco people could afford to use. Then came the dance — the most brilliant and fiery expressions of fla-c menco — which was usually kept until just near the end" of the son’ ,! The guitar was not part of" 'he tlamenco art until much later, he said, and then, it ! I was only of secondary im- i portance to the song and the i dance. It was only a mere >I accompaniment. And it was with that “mere.i a• i ompaniment” that Paeon Pena dazzled his audience last I •evening. He is recognised Ml

one of the world's greatest guitarists, having shared re- • titals with John Williams, and so compared with his art, the dance and the song seemed secondary. His solo bracket over. Paco Pena retired to the background. and the audience became caught up in the excitement of the flamenco dance. ■ With lightning in their eyes and fire in their feet, the three dancers — two women • and a man — varied their steps from the light and 'dainty to a fusillade of • stamping, so quick you could' ■ only hear, not see it. The gypsy. Loli Flores, and Margarita and Faiquillo de Cordoba. all recognised throughout Spain for their tlamenco art, worked the atmosphere into a frenzy at; (the finale, making the audi-| ence cry out again and again; for more, until their wish was i granted. |