From 9 February to 17 May, El Águila is hosting an exhibition that spans 150 years of singing, guitar playing and dance in Madrid: from its singing cafeterias and the sound of “Caño Roto” from its guitars to its flamenco houses and historic dance academies.
Curated by David Calzado and Teo Sánchez and organised by the Directorate General for Cultural Heritage, coinciding with its declaration as an Asset of Cultural Interest by the Community of Madrid, the FLAMENCO Chipén exhibition is divided into five sections, covering the history of dance, guitar playing and singing in the city. The first documentary reference to flamenco is used as a starting point: an article published in the El Espectador newspaper in 1847 by the name of Un cantante flamenco (A Flamenco Singer).
The exhibition includes more than 150 pieces, bringing together posters, costumes from leading references, such as Camarón, Enrique Morente or Paco de Lucía, archive documents and press articles, along with photographs by Nicolás Müller, Martín Santos Yubero, Ramón Zabalza or Alberto García Alix. Most of these form part of the collections of the Community of Madrid’s Regional Archive and Regional Library, along with private collections and foundations.
In this history spanning a century and a half, Madrid has played a key role from its origins, becoming an aspiration for promising flamenco artists. Flamenco in Madrid cannot be understood without the Teatro Pavón, Zambra, the first flamenco house established in Spain, El Corral de la Morería and the Amor de Dios dance academy or the Ramírez or Esteso-Conde guitar shops.
Over the years, places like El Rastro or Caño Roto in Carabanchel, which gave its name to what is known as the “Caño Roto sound” have taken on their own flamenco personality. The 1980s and 1990s witnessed the birth of the “young flamencos”, with Ketama proclaiming his classic Vente pa’ Madrid, the consolidation of the “Cumbre Flamenca”, and the conquering of venues like Teatro Real or El Ateneo by Paco de Lucía, Camarón and Enrique Morente.
Image Credits:
- Girl in a short jacket. Nicolás Muller
- Joaquín Cortés in the Plaza Mayor. Victoria Iglesias
- Juanito Valderrama. Santos Yubero ARCM
- Enrique Morente at El Candela. Alberto G Alix
- Reappearance of Manolo Caracol at Torres Bermejas. EFE Agency
- Opening of the gypsy village in Altamira. Santos Yubero. ARCM
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