Madrid flamenco - what is worth seeing if anything

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mrstwinkle

Posts: 551
Joined: May 14 2017

Madrid flamenco - what is worth seei...

I'm off to Madrid in a few days for a long weekend but can't find anything particularly useful on the interenet that isn't a flashy tablao with overpriced meal etc.

Tried Pena Duende but the season hasn't started.

Any pointers for where to look?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 22 2017 13:19:08

orsonw

Posts: 1934
Joined: Jul. 4 2009
From: London

RE: Madrid flamenco - what is worth ... (in reply to mrstwinkle)

Of course it depends on your taste. At this time of year in Madrid you may be best off at a 'flashy tablao' e.g. Corral de la Morería or Casa Patas. They often have good artists, you can check their programs online to see if you like the artists performing. E.g. last week Morento de Illora and Belen Lopez (El Desplante 2016)
http://www.corraldelamoreria.com/en/show.html
http://casapatas.com/

EDIT
Deflamenco has a short Madrid guide here and an offer to email them for advice.
https://www.deflamenco.com/revista/conciertos/donde-ver-flamenco-en-madrid-2.html

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 22 2017 13:49:03

mrstwinkle

Posts: 551
Joined: May 14 2017

RE: Madrid flamenco - what is worth ... (in reply to orsonw)

Thanks. I'll check them out even if it goes against the grain and feels icky-touristy. Or might just have a Spain trip with no flamenco for the first time in a while.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 22 2017 16:26:55

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: Madrid flamenco - what is worth ... (in reply to mrstwinkle)

quote:

I'll check them out even if it goes against the grain and feels icky-touristy.

I have only been to tablaos in Sevilla but they seem kind of odd to me in that the artists and performances were great but the audiences were terrible!

The set up is unpleasant, being herded in and out like a package tour, and as far as I could guess it was mostly tourists, including a spanish lady at one show who sat behind us and tried a few times to "join in" with random palmas that wasn't even in time let alone compas.

One place started the show with a patronizing talk like they were presenting to a group of school kids, but the performance was terrific, with a really good singer who sang some really unusual solea in a minor key (apparently from Antonio Mairena, maybe a letra of alegrias de cordoba, not sure).

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 22 2017 17:15:26

Richard Jernigan

Posts: 3430
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA

RE: Madrid flamenco - what is worth ... (in reply to mrstwinkle)

Last time we were in Madrid a few years ago we went to Casa Patas. We made a reservation and ate a decent dinner. Overpriced? It's relative. I'm sure you could find food just as good at a cheaper price, but we didn't feel ripped off. The food was tasty, there was plenty of it and we had a good bottle of wine. I think the wine was only 10 or 12 euros.

After dinner everybody heads into the showroom where it's dark and there are seats in rows. The crowd was OK. I don't think there were many real aficionados, if any. I thought most of the people were madrileños, even though it was in the summertime. There were three guitarists. two of them younger guys watching the lead. There were a male and a female singer. I thought the male singer was pretty good. The usual tablao style dancing dominated the show, with rapid footwork from the women and the usual dose of stomping and sweating from the men.

Larisa enjoyed it. On the whole, I would rather have been in a peña in Jerez, but nothing actually offended me, and I generally enjoyed the show.

For calibration, I would prefer just a guitar and a cantaor, not the usual tablao style show. Larisa claims she wouldn't be bored by just cante, but I have my doubts. I think she would prefer the tablao, which she enjoys.

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 23 2017 5:16:30

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: Madrid flamenco - what is worth ... (in reply to mrstwinkle)

quote:

I would rather have been in a peña in Jerez.....

.....I would prefer just a guitar and a cantaor, not the usual tablao style show.

(quoting Richard but replying to mrstwinkle)

If this is what you prefer, then surely there must be peñas in Madrid worth finding out?
And please post the results of your research and experience!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 24 2017 8:31:14

orsonw

Posts: 1934
Joined: Jul. 4 2009
From: London

RE: Madrid flamenco - what is worth ... (in reply to mark indigo)

quote:

If this is what you prefer, then surely there must be peñas in Madrid worth finding out?
And please post the results of your research and experience!

I think most peñas won't be open during August, but I may be wrong?

E.g. For other times of year Círculo Flamenco de Madrid is a good place for cante but not open in August.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 24 2017 19:45:26

mrstwinkle

Posts: 551
Joined: May 14 2017

RE: Madrid flamenco - what is worth ... (in reply to mrstwinkle)

Yes - pity Circulo is closed this time of year. Doubly a shame as two of my favourite live albums were recorded there (Macanita/Valencia and Reyes/Morao).

I've decided I'd rather not see any flamenco than a tablau/espactaculo, so with that proviso going to use the following as my bible and do a little legwork once I'm there to see if anything listed shows promise.

http://www.madridchow.com/blood-sweat-and-gypsy-tears-five-best-flamenco-bars-and-the-best-flamenco-show-in-madrid/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 24 2017 22:15:42