Vicente Amigo Memoria de los Sentidos 

at Sadler’s Wells Theatre Wednesday 5 June 2024

Vicente Amigo’s performance in the Flamenco Festival London at Sadler’s Wells was a reminder of his consistently high level of artistry, making him the great Maestro that we continue to admire, both as a composer and as a guitarist. Amigo was completely in his creative zone throughout this superb performance, using all the facilities of his phenomenal technique to express his inspired musical ideas, played with magnificent timbres and colours, contrasted with powerfully fast but expressive melodic bursts, always at the service of musical expression. It was an unforgettable musical experience.

Although the evening started with a solo by Vicente Amigo, his chair was positioned centre stage but closer to the back of the stage. When he was joined the rest of the ensemble – electric bass player Ewan Vernal, percussionist Paquito González and second guitarist Añil Fernández, and dancer Dani Navarro, with the singer Rafael de Utrera – they formed a semicircle, and one was reminded of the setting of Paco de Lucía’s sextet performances, especially with his white shirt and the black waistcoat. Amigo’s recording, Memoria de los Sentidos, was dedicated to Paco de Lucía.

Although Vicente Amigo released a new album earlier this year called Andenes del Tiempo, this performance focused on his previous albums, as it had been originally programmed for the 2023 Flamenco Festival London. Certainly, it was an enormous pleasure to hear him perform his music live because the quality of his playing is just as good or even better than on his Grammy Award winning albums. Each piece that Amigo plays is a long exploration of his composition, with unexpected modulations but there is always a strong melodic thread which guides us along. He has always had a special connection with writing boleros and in this performance he played his bolero Sevilla. As well as his expressive melody lines, the voicing and clarity of his chord voicings are an important aspect of his playing distinguishes him.

The calmness of Vicente Amigo’s face as he tilts his head back and plays, alternating with smiles of acknowledgement to his fellow ensemble members, let us know that it is all working as he wants. Although he does introduce each of the ensemble members, there is not a great deal of soloing. It is clear to us – and to his fellow performers – that he is fired up and needs to follow his muse freely, which is made possible because of their solid contributions. Ewan Vernal’s bass playing had a soothing vocal quality that was ever-present but sensitively balanced to support and not overpower. The second guitarist Añil Fernández was also having to take a supportive role. The contributions of singer Rafael de Utrera, with his distinctive raspy timbres was very special, whether he was singing or providing jaleo, but it was a great pleasure to hear his interpretations of ‘Autorretrato’ from Amigo’s Paseo de Gracia and ‘Tangos del Arco Bajo’ from Amigo’s Un Momento en el Sonido, which were particularly moving. These are musicianship that he has been collaborating with over many years; they were all recording with him on his Tierra album of 2013, so there is a strong level of understanding between them all that can only come from having long-term musical relationships.

The dancer Dani Navarro, who had been providing palmas throughout, seemed to be caught off guard when he was finally called upon to dance; however, after an introductory short dance, he then manage to go from zero to 100 miles per hour in under one minute, in the full and impressive solo that followed – the mark of a true professional! 

Vicente Amigo ©Juan Perez Fajardo

At the end of the performance, the audience all rose to their feet and gave a long applause, until Vicente Amigo came back for an encore with his ensemble. Amigo had already been so musically generous during the concert that it was surprising that he had the stamina to perform the encore with the same level of emotional expression and showed no signs of tiredness. We wanted to be there with him, and it made it even more special that he was in no rush to leave us either. What a gift he gave us!

Flamenco Festival London 2024 continues until 15 June 2024 with:

Patricia Guerrero and Alfonso Losa presenting Alter Ego on Thursday 6 June 2024, 7.30pm. Tickets

Eva Yerbabuena presenting Yerbagüena (bright dark) on Friday and Saturday 7–8 June 2024, 7.30pm (and 3pm Saturday). Tickets

flamenco singer Israel Fernández with guitarist Diego del Morao presenting Pura Sangre on Sunday 9 June 2024, 7.30pm. Tickets

David Coria & David Lagos Company present ¡Fandango! on Monday 10 June 2024, 7.30pm. Tickets

Ballet Nacional de España, directed by Rubén Olmo present Invocación on Wednesday–Saturday 12–15 June 2024, 7.30pm (and 3pm Saturday). Tickets

 Sarah Jiménez presents Ave de Plata (Silver Bird) on Friday 14 June 2024, 6pm. Tickets

Florencia Oz & Isodora O’Ryain Saturday 15 June 2024, 6pm. Tickets

María José Llergo presents her second album Ultrabelleza  Saturday 15 June 2024, 8.30pm. Tickets

for full programme: Flamenco Festival London 2024

Flamenco Festival London 2024 with Director Miguel Marín, is at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Rosebery Ave, Clerkenwell, London EC1R 4TN. Ticket Office Tel. 020 7863 8000, sadlerswells.com

© Thérèse Wassily Saba 2024