Suma Flamenca Expands Its Reach: 45 Performances and 15 World Premieres Across Madrid and Beyond

The renowned Suma Flamenca festival, celebrating the splendid art of flamenco, is set to return with its 19th edition from October 15 to November 3, 2024. This year, the festival will present 45 performances, including 15 world premieres and 19 regional debuts, spread across multiple venues in Madrid, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, La Cabrera, and Rascafría.

This edition highlights flamenco traditions from the eastern region of Spain, stretching from Ronda in Málaga to Cartagena in Murcia. The program, unveiled by the Community of Madrid’s Culture, Tourism, and Sports Minister, Mariano de Paco Serrano, aims to capture the essence of flamenco in the eastern territories, with performances that draw from the rich musical traditions of Málaga, Jaén, Granada, and Almería.

A total of 241 artists from across Spain will participate, featuring a diverse range of flamenco styles through dance, song, and guitar. Notable premieres include “El Gallo Azul” (The Blue Rooster) by Israel Fernández, “Yesqueros” by Pepe Habichuela, “Cuadrar el Círculo” (Square the Circle) by Rocío Molina, and “La Poeta” (the Female Poet) by Alfredo Lagos, among others. The lineup also includes celebrated artists such as Manuela Carrasco, Carmen Linares, Gerardo Núñez and Vicente Amigo.

In addition to the main performances, the Ateneo de Madrid will host an exhibition titled “El Flamenco en la Dramática Luna Negra,” exploring flamenco’s rich discography through the Carlos Martín Ballester collection, accompanied by a series of five lectures and live performances.

Under the direction of Antonio Benamargo, this edition broadens the scope of flamenco, continuing the festival’s tradition of featuring sounds from Cádiz, Jerez, and Campo de Gibraltar. The decentralized approach of the festival will also see performances at venues outside Madrid, including the Real Coliseo Carlos III in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, the Centro Comarcal de Humanidades Sierra Norte in La Cabrera, and the Real Monasterio de El Paular in Rascafría.

Key locations in Madrid include Teatros del Canal, the Ateneo de Madrid, Teatro de La Abadía, and cultural centers in Vallecas. The festival promises an immersive celebration of flamenco, offering both aficionados and newcomers a rich and varied program of performances.

More information at www.madrid.org/sumaflamenca/2024/programacion.html