I very rarely go out on Sundays. However, last Sunday I made an exception. A mate had tickets to Iberian Nights Eclectica: Flamenco Sounds featuring Rocio Márquez at the Globe Theatre on the South Bank, in London.
(Singer, Rocio Márquez)
To be honest, I was exhausted. It was my daughter’s birthday party the night before and I was fighting some kind of virus (which I am still fighting).However, to say I am delighted I went is a massive understatement. And as a singer/songwriter, I love experiencing music as a listener as well as a performer and one of my bugbears is, with general juggling of life, I don’t experience enough live music these days.
Anyway, back to the concert. I will keep this short, as my knowledge of Flamenco music is minimal. The concert was held in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, which is the Globe’s candlelit indoor theatre. It is absolutely stunning and an incredible setting in which to enjoy a performance.
(The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, the Globe’s candlelit indoor theatre)
Singer, Rocío Márquez, was accompanied by Miguel Ángel Cortés, who was stupendous on guitar and the rhythms were provided by the duo Los Mellis, two rather attractive twin brothers, who were also great.
I didn’t really know how I was going to interact with the music, not being a Flamenco aficionado. I know it is a form of Spanish folk music from southern Spain. It includes singing, guitar playing, sometimes baile (dance) and jaleo, which refers to the vocalizations and rhythmic sounds of palmas (handclapping) and pitos (finger snapping).
I was drawn in within seconds. And there really aren’t enough superlatives to describe the performance and the emotion that was communicated to me. It was passionate, tender, dramatic, intricate, precise and totally mesmerising. Also, bear in mind I speak about two phrases of Spanish, but my lack of understanding did not inhibit my enjoyment at all – and I guess that is the magic of great music.
I think this concert was a one off, but remember the names, because if they are performing near you, I urge you to get tickets.Oh one more thing. The performers and some audience members who knew, spontaneously shouted “Ole” at appropriate moments. I realised that this exclamation was a shout of approval and enthusiasm - and I may be adopting this in everyday life…Sadly, couldn’t find a clip of the whole ensemble. But here are Rocio Márquez Miguel Ángel Cortés and doing their thing.