World Music Institute to Present María José Llergo and Sandra Carrasco

(headline image: María José Llergo (left) Sandra Carrasco (right))

World Music Institute again teams up with Flamenco Festival New York in an annual celebration of the unique fusion of tradition and modernity that animates contemporary Spanish flamenco. This 23rd edition of the festival is the largest and most ambitious edition so far; with a total of 17 companies that will present 24 shows in 12 different venues across New York City.

María José Llergo is one of the most exciting new voices in contemporary flamenco music, part of the young generation of singers carrying the music forward in the 21st century. Born in rural Andalucía, Spain’s storied birthplace of flamenco, Madrid-based Llergo was raised in a Roma family where she absorbed the tradition firsthand. She attended the Catalonia School of Music (ESMUC), where she studied under José Miguel “Chiqui” Vizcaya – the legendary singer who mentored Rosalía. Llergo’s 2020 debut EP, Sanación, was a revelation, and NPR called her 2023 album Ultrabelleza “a perfect intersection of flamenco and contemporary sounds with an unparalleled authenticity.” María José Llergo made her US debut in 2023, dazzling audiences at globalFEST at Lincoln Center, and WMI is excited to bring her back to NYC on her first U.S. tour.

Sandra Carrasco is one of the most versatile singers performing the flamenco style today. She has been involved in numerous projects that have greatly influenced her artistic approach and is musically fluent in several genres such as jazz and bossa nova. For her NYC solo debut, Sandra will offer a traditional recital of cante (flamenco singing) accompanied by guitarist David de Arahal. Both artists pay tribute to the inimitable Pepe Marchena with this exciting reinterpretation of his work.

David de Arahal embarked on his musical journey at the age of 10, attending the local music school in his hometown in the province of Seville. He honed his craft under the guidance of such esteemed masters as Manolo Sanlúcar, Víctor Monge Serranito, and Paco Cepero Despite his youth, he is hailed as a virtuoso, garnering praise from the flamenco world. Rafael Riqueni has dubbed him “the future of flamenco guitar,” while Miguel Poveda lauds him as “one of the finest of his generation, a young sage”. His roster of collaborators is a who’s who of flamenco greats, including Pepe de Lucía, Lole Montoya, Miguel Poveda, Estrella Morente, Antonio Canales, and Tomatito.

Double Bill. Counterpoint Series. Co-presented with Flamenco Festival New York.

Friday, March 15
(le) poisson rouge
158 Bleecker st – Manhattan
7 PM – Doors | 8 PM – Show
$30 – Advance / $35 Doors
Standing show with limited seating