direct from AndalucíaSpain

NEWSLETTER February 2008 for immediate release

www.andaluciaflamenco.com

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The Andalucia region of southern Spain excites New York with its Eighth Annual Flamenco Festival (February 8 to 24) featuring major theater performances

by stellar flamenco singers, dancers and musi-cians “…one of New York City’s most important events” (Newsday). Coinciding with the Flamenco Festival, del-egates from the Andalucia Tourist Board (Turismo Andaluz) together with destination, hotel and resort representatives, will visit New York and other Northeast cities to participate in promotional activities and travel industry presen-tations, with the collaboration of Tourist Office of Spain in New York. Of momentous marketing importance is Delta Air Line’s new nonstop flights between New York (JFK) and Malaga (AGP), inaugurating June 4 with three flights a week and increasing on July 8 to four flights a week. Delta will also offers conve-nient JFK connections systemwide from cities such as Boston, Atlanta, Orlando, Los Angeles and

San Francisco. While Malaga’s Pablo Ruiz Picasso Airport (duly named for its native son) receives U.S. visitors direct to the Costa del Sol on the Mediterranean, it also becomes a welcoming hub for traveling throughout Andalucia by car, train or bus. The airport is expanding with construction of an ultra-modern 2.7 million sq. ft. additional terminal scheduled for completion by the second half of 2009, and a second runway in 2010. Iberia Airlines has increased its service to Spain from the U.S. with the introduction of non-stop flights to Madrid from Washington D.C. and from Boston, in addition to its ongoing New York, Miami and Chicago nonstops to Madrid. Service from each of these five U.S. gateways offers con-venient connections through Iberia’s Madrid hub to cities in Andalucia. Another transportation milestone in Anda-lucia is the new high-speed AVE (Alta Velocidad Española) passenger train between Madrid and Malaga inaugurated December 23, 2007 with up to 13 departures scheduled throughout the day

in each direction. The 513-kilometer/319-mile trip takes just 2-1/2 hours, reaching velocity up to 350 kph/215 mph. This new Madrid-Malaga route complements Spain’s first AVE high-speed train service be-tween Madrid and Seville (also a 2-1/2-hour trip) inaugurated with extraordinary success in 1992 for Seville’s Universal Exposition. (www.renfe.com) Rooted in folk traditions, the ever-evolving art of flamenco is performed on the world’s great stages and appreciated by refined audiences who, in turn, are inspired to visit Andalucia. Today, flamenco thrives as an integral and essential ele-ment of daily life throughout the eight provinces of Andalucia: Almeria, Cadiz, Cordoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaen, Malaga, and Sevilla. The following masterful performers of the Flamenco Festival, who tour worldwide, are ex-emplary of Andalusia. They have learned the art since childhood, or studied with great maestros,developing into magnificent and (uPG4)

ANDALUCIA ROMANCES NEW YORK

WITH ITS8th ANNUAL

FLAMENCO FESTIVAL FEBRUARY 2008

Delta air lines’ new flights beckon new Yorkers to anDalucia, spain:

JFK / Malaga nonstop inaugurating June 4

TOUR OPERATORS Participating in joint marketing agreements with the Andalucía Tourist Board, these experts offer long-established and innovative tour selections in-cluding motor coach escorted tours, train tours, fly-drive, or specialized independent travel itineraries. Each company offers a wide selection of enticing and memorable Itineraries in Andalucía, as you can view on their websites. For brochures, planning and reservations, contact them or see your travel agent.

CenTral Holidays www.centralholidays.com/andalucia

(866) 521-4180

spanisH HeriTage Tourswww.shtours.com

(800) 456-5050

sun Holidays www.sunholidaytours.com

(800) 422-8000

Travel impressionswww.travelimp.com

(800) 284-0044

AndAlucíA: lAnd of flAmenco

Flamenco is as diverse as the cultures that settled in Andalucía over the centuries: Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, as well as Arabs, Jews, Christians, and the nomadic Gypsies from India who made this their land, a place of rich cultural synergy. Flamenco singing evolved from fusion of

legacies: Jewish psalmodic melodies of the ninth through fifteenth centuries, Hindu music, as well as Byzantine, Muslim and Mozarabic chants. The six-string flamenco guitar evolved from Eastern instru-ments. These elements, assimilated by the Andalusian people and enhanced by their innate musicality, and talent for spontaneous interactive improvisation, gave birth to flamenco, a folk genre of complex rhythms, modulations and tonalities. An amazing variety of styles evolved – flamenco scholars count 73 -- each unique to one of Andalucía’s eight provinces: Almería, Cádiz, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga and Sevilla. The earliest written reference to flamenco was by Cervantes in the early 17th century, describing a preciosa gypsy dancer. It is not necessary to study flamenco in order to enjoy it; however it is rewarding to understand some of the many rhythmic forms. For example, the solemn soleares as well as lively alegrías and bulerías are based on a series of 12 beats accented as follows: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. Try it, first by counting, then with precision clapping (palmas), foot tapping, finger snapping, and/or tongue clicking on the accented beat. Then, with one or two other people, try the downbeat together with counter-point, then in syncopation, then all three simultaneously. Intrinsic in Andalusian lifestyle, flamenco is enjoyed in tablaos (flamenco nightclubs with shows), congenial bars with spontaneous flamenco, peñas (flamenco aficionado clubs and get-togethers), and traditional Gypsy fiestas. Flamenco flourishes today in Andalusian cities and rural villages known for their immortal geniuses as well as contemporary living maestros. The Andalucía Tourist Board has developed an appealing cultural tourism program called Routes through Flamenco Territories. Seven distinct four- or five-day themed itineraries tour provinces where specific flamenco styles originated, continue today as a vital element of local life, and are performed and explained in situ by local masters. (www.andaluciaflamenco.org) The ingeniously designed Museo del Baile Flamenco (Museum of Flamenco Dance) in Seville, housed in an 18th-century Andalusian mansion, exhibits the history and art of flamenco and its immortals. Mas-ter dance classes inspire future talents, and introductory classes are offered for beginners. The museum is promoted by famed dancer/choreographer Christina Hoyos. (www.flamencomuseum.com) Andalucía’s supreme flamenco festival held every two years, La Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla (Sep 10-Oct 11, 2008) is an extraordinary showcase with an array of daily performances, exhibits and activi-ties in exciting venues throughout Seville. (www.bienal-flamenco.org) Coinciding with the Bienal (biennial), the International Marketplace of Flamenco Tourism is an important trade show attended by major travel agents, tour operators and specialized journalists. The art of flamenco is thriving, evolving, fashionable, and traveling – from cobbled streets of picturesque Andalusian villages to sophisticated theater stages around the world.

Contact: Frank Shiell (212) 242-2204 info@andaluciaflamenco.com

(tPG1) celebrated flamenco artists. At Manhat-tan’s Town Hall Theater, renowned singers, Carmen Linares and Miguel Poveda, share the stage with guitarist Juan Carlos Romero and dancer Pastora Galván on February 8. Dazzling Tomatito, “one of the greatest living flamenco guitarists” (New York Times) performs with his ensemble February 9. Two extraordinary shows will enrapture audi-ences at New York City Center. On February 15, the Gala Flamenca entitled Mujeres (women of flamenco) features three generations of dancers: legendary Merche Esmeralda, innovative Belén Maya, and rising star Rocío Molina, with special guest, singer Diana Navarro, directed by renowned Mario Maya.. The Ballet Flamenco Eva Yerbabuena who, according to The Times of London, “is touched by greatness”, will debut a new show on February 16 and 17. At NYU Skirball Center, the hot new Son de la Frontera ensemble performs fiery vocals, instru-mentals and dance on February 23 and 24. This electrifying group was created in tribute to guitar

maestro Diego del Gastor from Morón de la Frontera, Seville, and includes two of his grand-nephews.Promoting culinary appreciation of Andalucia, selected restaurants will feature Andalusian gastronomy and

wines during February. Magazine and online sweepstakes will award trips to “the birthplace of flamenco”. Activities related to the Festival include complimentary flamenco dance classes for ticket holders to New York City Center performances. Classes start 90 minutes before curtain in the theater’s “Andalucía Lounge”. The Flamenco Festival also hosts the following complimentary cultural events at the Instituto Cervantes New York (211 East 49 Street, 212-308-7720) at 6 pm: dialogue with dancer Eva Yerba-buena, February 11; lecture and demonstration by guitarist Paco Jarana February 12; dialogue with dancer-choreographer Mario Maya, February 13; and a screening of the film Zarbahe, la Naturaleza del Flamenco (the nature of flamenco), a documentary by Pepe Zapata, February 14. The Flamenco Festival also tours North America with February performances in Washington, Mi-ami, Los Angeles, Boston and Montreal, then on to London in March at Sadler’s Wells. Flamenco Festival Inc. (www.flamencofestival.org) is produced in the USA, Canada, Europe, Asia and Australia by Miguel Marin Productions which presents the New York Festival in conjunction with World Music Institute (www.worldmusicinstitute.org/flamenco)

information: www.andaluciaflamenco.com travel in Andalucia: www.andalucia.org

ANDALUCÍA CULINARY AFFAIR AT NEW YORK RESTAURANTS

HigHligHting Cuisine And Wines from AndAluCíA, februAry 10-20, 2008

ALCALÁ 342 East 46th St (212) 370 1866BOQUERÍA 53W 19th St (212) 255 4160CASA MONO 52 Irving Pl (212) 253 2773EL QUINTO PINO 401 West 24th St (212) 206 6900 E.U. 235 East 4th St (212) 254 2900MADISON LOUNGE 45 East 45th St (212) 661 9600OLIVES 201 Park Ave. South (212) 353 8345PAMPLONA 37 East 28th St (212) 213 2328PINTXOS 510 Greenwich St (212) 343 9923SALA 35 West 19th St (212) 229 2300SOLERA 216 East 53rd St (212) 644 1166SUBA 109 Ludlow St (212) 982 5714TÍA POL 205 10th Ave (212) 675 8805TOLEDO 6 East 36th St (212) 696 5036

2 3

CádizMálaga

GranadaAlmería

JaénCórdoba

SevillaHuelva

Atlantic

Mediterra

nean

Born in AndAlucíA: Three Roman Emperors: Trajan, Claudius and Hadrian were born dur-ing the 1st and 2nd centuries AD in the then-flourishing Roman City of Itálica when Spain was part of the Roman Empire. Don’t miss the spectacular Roman remains of ancient Itálica, just ten minutes north of Seville.

In Córdoba, historically a prolific and harmonious multicultural center, statues commemorate a triumvirate of enlightened thinkers born there: Roman philosopher Seneca (1st century AD), Arab philoso-pher-astronomer Averroes (12th century), and Jewish philosopher-physician Maimonides (12th century).

Born in Seville’s vibrant Triana quarter, Rodrigo de Triana was a seaman aboard Christopher Columbus’ discovery voyage across the Atlantic, sailing from the Anda-lusian port of Palos de la Frontera (Prov-ince of Huelva). Triana was the first to see the New World when he shouted Land ho! on that momentous morning of October 12, 1492.

The world was first circumnavigated from Andalucía. Juan Sebastián Elcano, explorer and sailor, was the first man to sail around the world, aboard the only surviv-ing ship of the Magellan voyage, return-ing in 1522 to Atlantic port of Sanlúcar de Barrameda (Province of Cádiz) from which they embarked in 1519.

Two of Spain’s greatest 17th-century ba-roque-era painters were born in Seville: Diego Velázquez (1599-1660), and Bartolomé Murillo (1617-1682).

Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (1836-70), born in Seville, was a premier lyric poet of the 19th century. In Seville’s María Luis Park, a lyrical marble sculpture by Lorenzo Coullaut Valera (1876-1932 from March-ena, Seville) honors Bécquer. The life-size tableau wraps around a bald cypress from Louisiana. Ángel Ganivet (1865-1898) Born in Granada. Writer, social philosopher and diplomat, considered a precursor to the literati “Generation of 1898”.

Manuel de Falla (1876-1946), supreme Spanish classical composer, born in Cádiz and lived 18 prolific years in Granada. He shared his fervor for flamenco cante hondo with colleague Federico García Lorca. www.manueldefalla.com

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), considered the most important artist of the 20th cen-tury, was born in the city of Málaga. In the historic center, Museo Picasso Málaga, opened 2003, is housed in a 16th-century Andalusian-renaissance palace with mod-ernized exhibit interiors. (Walk downstairs to the basement and view amazing situ Phoenician, Roman and Arab ruins discov-ered here.) www.museopicassomalaga.org

Federico García Lorca (1898-1936), im-mortal writer, poet and dramatist, also painter, pianist and composer, born in Fuente Vaqueros near the city of Granada. He compiled and preserved a treasured collection of flamenco poems, lyrics and music, a legacy adored and performed today. www.garcia-lorca.org

Rafael Alberti (1902-1999), celebrated poet and painter, born in El Puerto de Santa María (province of Cádiz).

María Zambrano (1904-1991), philoso-pher, born in Vélez-Málaga (Province of Málaga).

Paco de Lucía, astonishing virtuoso flamenco guitarist-composer of our time, born in 1947 in Algeciras, located at the southernmost tip of Spain (Province of Cádiz).

Lola Flores (1923-1995), lovingly nick-named “La Faraona”, born in Jerez de la Frontera (Province of Cádiz): singer, dancer, actress, and 20th-century legend.

Carlos Cano (1946-2000) popular Andalusian singer, born in Granada.

Camarón de la Isla (1950-1992) flamenco Gypsy cantaor and powerful influence and legend, born in San Fernando (Province of Cádiz).

Baltasar Garzón, born 1955 in Jaén, and studied in Seville; dynamic and revered judge and Nobel Prize candidate.

Antonio Banderas, award-winning actor, producer, director, born 1960 in Málaga.

Joaquín Cortés celebrated flamenco dancer, born in Córdoba, 1969.

Among the great bullfighters: “Manolete” (Manuel Rodríguez Sánchez) born in the city of Córdoba (1917); Antonio Ordoñez, Ronda (1932-1998); “El Cordobés” (Manuel Benítez Pérez), born in Palma del Río, Province of Córdoba (1936)

Rocío Jurado (1944-2006) from coastal Chipiona (Province of Cádiz), a brilliant singer, performing artist and personage lovingly known as “La más grande” (The Greatest).

AndAlucíA’s fAirs, festivAls And fiestAs 2008

Plan your trip to coincide with fabulous festivals, fairs and fiestas throughout the year. Here is just a sampling:

XII Festival de Jerez / 12th Festival of Jerez (Feb 22-Mar 8) Showcasing stellar flamenco (including certain artists featured in the New York Flamenco Festival), as well as the city’s treasured Andalusian horses and its famed wine cellars (bodegas) that produce sherry (jerez). www.festivaldejerez.es

Carnaval de Cádiz / Carnival of Cádiz (Jan 31-Feb 10) with festivities, extra- ordinary costumes, processions, and ebul-lient street fairs in this Atlantic seaport city, the oldest in Western Europe. www.carnavaldecadiz.com

Semana Santa / Holy Week (Mar 16-23) Opulent and dramatic processions everywhere.

Feria de Sevilla / Seville’s April Fair (Apr 7-13) Andalucía’s capital city is fes-tooned with flowers and regalia. Women in vivid flounced dresses and men in traditional riding habit parade together on horseback and in horse-drawn carriages. Hundreds of casetas (private pavilions, most by invitation) compete for best decoration, food, wines, and flamenco singing, dancing and guitar.

Festival de los Patios Cordobeses / Córdoba Patio Festival (May 1-11) In the old-quarter’s labyrinth of narrow streets and whitewashed houses, homeowners proudly compete for the most beautifully decorated patio.

Romería del Rocío / Rocío Pilgrimage (May 7-11) Annual pilgrimage, since the 15th century, of Andalucía brotherhoods exalting their patron saint, La Virgen del Rocío. They travel on horseback and on foot through Doñana National Park and biosphere reserve (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Singing and dancing flamenco along the way, they converge at the shrine of Rocío in the town of Almonte (Province of Huelva) for festivities and processions. Rocío (morning dew) is also a favored name of Andalusian women and pervades in flamenco lyrics.

Feria del Caballo de Jerez / Jerez Horse Fair (Apr 27-May 4) Hundreds of hosted

casetas outshine each other in décor, theme, cuisine and, of course, flamenco music and dance. Spectacular parades on horseback, and competitions in dressage, classic car-riage driving, roping and doma vaquera (country dressage). Galas at the Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre (Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art) with exquisite intri-cate four-legged choreography to classical Spanish music that resonates flamenco rhythms. www.realescuela.org

Festival Internacional de Música y Danza de Granada / Granada International Festival of Music and Dance (Jun 20-Jul 6) Among the most prestigious of Europe, this annual performing arts festival once featured a historic cante jondo contest organized in 1922 by granadinos Manuel de Falla and Federico García Lorca. www.granadafestival.org Festival de la Guitarra de Córdoba / Cór-doba Guitar Festival (Jul 2-14) The world’s great virtuosos convene to perform and teach all genre: flamenco, classical, jazz, and modern. Courses and seminars on guitar playing, composition, construction and history. www.guitarracordoba.com XVI Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla 2008 (Sep 10-Oct 11) Held every two years, in the even year. Seville’s 16th biennial offers a month of supreme flamenco with sev-eral events daily, ranging from ad libitum fiesta-style juergas to sophisticated concerts. www.bienal-flamenco.org

Previewing 2009: Málaga en Flamenco (all September, 2009, dates to be announced) A biennial (every two years, in the odd year) this extraordinary performing arts festival, inaugurated in 2005, showcases Málaga’s own artists and its flamenco expressions, styles and genres from the province, such as malagueñas and the festive pandas de verdiales (musical groups from the countryside). www.malagaenflamenco.com

AndAlucíA: BirthplAce And inspirAtion of GreAt people

A 2000-yeAr sAmplinG

inspired in AndAlucíA:Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406) Tunis-born Arab scholar who settled in Carmona (Province of Seville) where his illustrious 14th-centu-ry accomplishments made him a forerunner of modern historiography and economics. A major 2006 exhibition at the Real Alcázar Palace in Seville, honored his profound contributions to the culture Al-Andalus (the early name of Andalucía).

Washington Irving, New York-born author and “travel writer” (1783-1859). You can see his house in Seville’s Old Jewish Quarter (Barrio de Santa Cruz). From there he went to live in Granada where he was inspired to write Tales of the Alhambra.

Gerald Brenan (1894-1987). Renowned authorwho loved Spain, and especially Málaga where he was buried at his request. He was acclaimed by the London Times as “a brilliant interpreter of Spain to the rest of the world” for his book South from Granada, a Sojourn in Southern Spain.

Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961). His life had profound ties with Andalucía, as re-flected in The Sun Also Rises, Death in the Afternoon, For Whom the Bell Tolls, and

The Dangerous Summer.

Orson Welles (1915-1985) shared Hemmingway’s fascination with

Andalucía, especially Ronda and bullfighting. Welles told his

dear friend Antonio Ordoñez, “I would love to have my ashes

buried in your well, so my name will be always present in your gar-

den [in Ronda]…A man is not from where he is born, but from where he

chooses to die.” Indeed, his ashes are buried there.

Hugh Thomas (1931- ) British author, dis-tinguished historian and devotee of Spanish culture and history. His book Rivers of Gold: The Rise of the Spanish Empire, from Columbus to Magellan is praised as “…a grand and sweeping account.” (NY Times)

Ian Gibson (1939- ) Dublin-born biogra-pher, Hispanist, and eminent authority on Lorca, Machado and Dalí. He went to live in Granada.

andaluCía, spain’s second largest autonomous Community, covers 87,268 square kilometers (33,964 square miles), with 900 kilometers (560 miles) of privileged coastline along two seas. it comprises eight provinces, each with a capital city of the same name (indicated on above map) including sevilla which is andalucía’s capital.

www.andalucia.org www.spain.info

CELEBRATING NEW FLIGHTS – NONSTOP TO ANDALUCIA!

On June 4, 2008, Delta Air Lines inaugurates nonstop service between

New York-JFK and Málaga. (Plan your trips to Andalucía accordingly, starting with

the following festival.) www.delta.com