Estrella Morente, Sadler's Wells Flamenco Festival

Estrella Morente, Sadler's Wells Flamenco Festival | reviews, news & interviews

Estrella Morente, Sadler's Wells Flamenco Festival

A singer gets closer to her sound equipment than to her audience

by Ismene BrownTuesday, 08 February 2011

Estrella Morente: Putting the mike sound before the live experience

Every February the Sadler’s Wells flamenco festival summons the illusion of Spanish sun onto our chilled, grateful backs - this year singers are getting almost as much prominence as dancers. But what sun, I ask, at Estrella Morente’s dark, often remote evening, opening the fortnight last night? (And why, still, after years of urgent requests, no subtitles for these pungently melodramatic lyrics?)

Flamenco should be this bewitching last bastion of live engagement with the earth, fire and the vast night sky

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Permalink Submitted by J Fernandez (not verified) on Wed, 09/02/2011 - 07:59

maybe it was YOU AND NOT THEM ,that after 3 songs, the ONE WHO did at last forget aboutTHEM being Names in the music world, and FINALLY AFTER YOU SURRENDERING TO THE MUSIC they became individuals simply expressing an unfeigned hope AS that they were doing the heartstopping song justice.....she was incredible in the show, amazingly moving from stop to end, no need for subtitles whatsoever, as your heart GOT filled from the very beginning.....of course if you dont have expectations and your monkey mind is on your way!!!

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Permalink Submitted by D (not verified) on Wed, 09/02/2011 - 08:09

I can only guess you did'nt stay until the end, she was on stage with her younger brother and members of her late fathers group who played on front of the palace in Madrid last summer. At the finale, touched by the adoration of the crowd and the memory of her father she sang a capella (without a microphone) at the front of the stage and reduced her own group and all the audience to tears.

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Permalink Submitted by Chris Cullinane (not verified) on Wed, 09/02/2011 - 10:47

I could not disagree more with Ismene's original post; yes Estrella used a microphone but her voice resonated without it as did her passion. You clearly have a dislike for the use of technology which I think clouded your judgement. I thought the structure of the concert was excellent with the two styles of dress matching the tone of the songs. The ole's are surely prompted by spontaneous emotion and encouragement. I am not an aficienado of flamenco although I have seen Estrella 4 times. The final two songs, sung without the microphone, were clearly laments to her father. If that did not move you as a real cry of pain at her loss then you must have a heart of stone. Surely this demonstrated the real essence of flamenco.

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Permalink Submitted by Jenny (not verified) on Wed, 09/02/2011 - 12:21

It's quite obvious you don't know about flamenco so I'm confused as to why you're writing reviews of flamenco shows? You have a nice poetic style but I'll go elsewhere to read something by someone who understands the music I think.

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Permalink Submitted by carmen (not verified) on Wed, 09/02/2011 - 15:03

didn't have the luck of seing estrella last night in her first show after Enrique's dead. The great Enrique. what a big loss. will be waiting till she comes back to spain to hear her voice full of blood, spirit, angel and strength. that voice that always brings you to the warm of your homeland, and reminds you the fire of your origins. barcelona, spain

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