World Cup Flamenco Frenzy

Dear Paul and Esteemed Friends,The sixth day of the 30th Edition of the Córdoba Guitar Festival was unlike any other day in the history of the Festival, and Spain. The apparent tension in front of every television, big screen, and radio was somehow transmitted to the empty streets as I walked about for a moment during the game and felt the same tension I felt in front of my television in my hotel room, that something big was about to happen. I returned to my hotel and I continued to rehearse in front of the screen waiting for something to happen in overtime. And soon enough something happened….(winning the World Cup Final would surely send the Spanish into a frenzy, but the way it happened intensified the euphoria) the Plaza de Las Tendillas erupted into a fiesta unlike any other Spain has seen. The celebration delayed the start of the evening concert and the walk to the venue was lively to say the least!Leo Brouwer’s Aleluya por Córdoba (Brouwer was the Director of the Orchestra from 1992-2001) and caused him to arrive a bit late because of traffic. The only kind of intense traffic here is foot traffic, so it was a bit unusual to see the streets filled with cars…. and that they were also waving the Spanish flag.In this concert Paco Serrano and Javier Riba interpreted Albéniz Flamenco, with the Plectrum Orchestra of Cordoba. Javier Riba and Juan Luis González as director interpreted Castillos de sal and by Javier Villafuerte Acerca de la felicidad, by soloist Javier Riba. Paco Serrano joined Riba for duo arrangement of Albéniz favorites including Granada. Also participating in this concert were the Guitar Orchestra of Córdoba under the direction of José Manuel Hierro which interpreted Poeta (Vicente Amigo) Entre dos Aguas (Paco de Lucía) Caballo negro (Manolo Salúcar) among other well-known themes. The Coro Ziryab closed the show with all performers onstage minus soloist, Serrano. This choir, under the direction of Leo Brouwer, exhibited something unlike I had ever seen… a choir with compás, soniquete, aire…. Duende! Need I say more to you lovers of Flamenco? I lived history! Thank you Maestros Brouwer, Serrano, Riba, González, Hierro! Thank you Córdoba! And the game was historical also!I am off to see The Eva Yerbabuena Flamenco Company this evening! I will give a full report tomorrow. And soon will give some insight to what I am learning in class :) Cheers, Corey