(noticia) Peña Flamenco fires up the Kimmel

Posted on Tue, Jan. 31, 2006

By Nancy G. Heller
For The Inquirer

Sunday afternoon is an odd time to present a flamenco show, since this art form is traditionally associated with the night. And Verizon Hall, a large theater with a shallow stage and virtually no wings, hardly seems like an ideal venue. Yet on Sunday between 3 and 5:30 p.m., the Paco Peña Flamenco Ensemble made its Kimmel Center debut with an intimate, emotionally stirring performance that brought the capacity crowd to its feet, screaming as if for a favorite rock-and-roll band.

An internationally recognized flamenco guitar virtuoso, composer and teacher, Peña, 62, has had his own touring company since 1970. This native of Córdoba, Spain, is a small, unassuming man from the nonhistrionic school of flamenco.

Onstage, Peña appears quiet and unemotional, avoiding facial grimaces and emotive body language; he barely even taps his foot. But in the four all-instrumental items on Sunday's program, Peña's music was rich and warm, his technique astonishing. His lovely guitar solo seemed effortless.

(leer +) [vía philly]