Dazzling Flamenco Talent in Madrid During Christmas 2023

The flamenco zambombas at Teatro Flamenco Madrid and the Tablao de la Villa; dancer Alfonso Losa; guitar master Niño Josele; Luis Gallo Trio; and Alex Conde y Los Indultados, will star in the first performances of Navidades Flamenco Capital.

The last century was a time of expansion and fraternization of flamenco with other musical forms. This has meant that in recent decades the programming of artists who cultivate flamenco, in a pure form or hybridized, has been exponentially enriched. One of its great places of development is, without a doubt, Madrid, thanks to its constant cultural movement and the promotion of tablaos and music venues, increasingly open to flamenco. Thanks to all this, Christmas time brings performances by brilliant artists, with a stylistic variety, even within the flamenco field, without parallel.

Between Sunday, December 17 and Sunday, December 31st, these brilliant artists will gather at Christmas Flamenco Capital, the series that Madrid en Vivo promotes through its Flamenco Madrid project, and which will take place in nine different stages, with a total of 14 performances.

First set of performances of Navidades Flamenco Capital announced:

Sunday, December 17: Zambomba Flamenca – Teatro Flamenco Madrid

Once again Enrique Torres presents the Madrid Flamenco Theater’s Zambomba Flamenca with a cast made up of the following artists: Singers: Marta Heredia, Saray Muñoz, Samara Losada, Arabia Quirós, Pedro Jiménez, Sergio and Enrique Pantoja. Guitarists: Andrés Heredia and Basilio García; Piano: Pedro Jiménez. Percussion: Cheto Muñoz.

Singing, guitars and revelry make up the most traditional festival that is celebrated during Chrostmas in Jerez de la Frontera, a historic corner of Cádiz recognized as one of the cradles of flamenco. Once again, the Teatro Flamenco Madrid stage will be filled with a cast of artists who will perform an emotional repertoire of flamenco carols so that concertgoers can participate and enjoy this endearing Christmas party.

Sunday, December 17: Zambomba Flamenca – Tablao de la Villa

Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, the Zambomba de Jerez has become a phenomenon in recent years that attracts visitors from all corners of the world. Next December 17 at 2:00 p.m. Madrid will celebrate its first Christmas zambomba at the Tablao de la Villa. Includes a Jerez stew. The zambomba is a historical tradition of Jerez, considered the cradle of flamenco art, that dates back to the 18th century when neighbors, family, and friends gathered in the patios and streets of the neighborhood to sing and dance Christmas carols.

Tuesday, December 19: Alfonso Losa – Tablao Flamenco 1911

Alfonso Losa started in a dance school that taught contemporary dance, ballet, and flamenco. At the age of 17 he joined Manuela Carrasco’s company, where he discovered flamenco naturally. He learned in a special way, without rehearsals, going directly to the theater to dance. Within his career, the following awards stand out: “El desplante” Award, 2008 International Minas Competition; “Soleá Award, 2007 Córdoba National Competition; Best Dancer Award, Spanish Dance and Flamenco Choreography Competition (1996 and 2000). Currently, winner of the “Critics Award” at the Jerez Festival 2022.

Thursday, December 21: Niño Josele – Teatro Flamenco Madrid (Círculo Flamenco Madrid)

Guitar master Niño Josele comes from a long line of traditional Spanish musicians and, like most children born into musical families, he began playing as a child. However, unlike his ancestors, his versatility has become a trademark, especially since the release of Paz in 2006.

Galaxias is the album that defines guitarist Niño Josele today, a flamenco native who has forged his career with legendary musicians who have been his great teachers: Bebo Valdés, Paco de Lucía, Enrique Morente, Bill Evans, Chick Corea. This work includes the special collaboration of Chick Corea and Rubén Blades. It is an album that marks a starting point from which a stage of maturity in which Niño Josele becomes his own reference; presenting in concert an experience beyond flamenco, with a rhythmic repertoire of bulerías, rumbas and verdiales that breathes freshness, roots, and freedom to merge.

Thursday, December 21: Luis Gallo Trio – El Despertar

Guitarist and composer Luis Gallo presents this eclectic flamenco-jazz project, together with Iván Mellén and Gabriel Peso, two of the most versatile musicians in Madrid. With a modern sound concept, this trio focuses on original songs, contributing to flamenco influences ranging from world music to progressive rock, in a reinterpretation of the so-called flamenco fusion. The members of the trio are collaborators of great international acts, Luis Gallo (Ara Malikian, John Stowell, Hans Zimmer, Rosalía), Iván Mellén (Concha Buika, Valeria Castro) and Gabriel Peso (David Bisbal).

Thursday, December 21: Alex Conde y Los Indultados – Sala Villanos

Alex Conde has spent more than 15 years living in the United States where he has deepened his musical studies and has produced several high-impact musical works. His recreation of the music of T. Monk and Bud Powell, two of the great architects of the bebop revolution in jazz, from the perspective of flamenco and Latin rhythms, has earned him the highest praise from the major publications in the jazz field. Starting from the most representative pasodobles, couplets and popular songs such as the pasodobles “Amparito Roca” or “Suspiros de España” or classics like “El Beso”, Alex Conde and the Indultados give a complete turn to the vision that we all have of Spanish legacy popular musical.

Discover here the complete Navidades Flamenco Capital program and all its details.