Podcast Summary: "Nuestro Flamenco – 2025 y Nuestro Flamenco (III)"

Host: José María Velázquez-Gaztelu
Podcast: Radio Clásica – Nuestro Flamenco
Episode Date: February 25, 2026
Episode Theme:
A rich retrospective on the latter half of 2025 in the flamenco world, highlighting significant concerts, artist milestones, new works, losses, and key figures who shaped flamenco that year. The episode continues a three-part year-in-review, capturing vibrant details and emotional moments from July to December 2025, with a strong sense of flamenco’s evolution, memory, and creative dynamism.

Main Theme & Purpose

A journey through flamenco’s recent history (mid-to-late 2025):
José María Velázquez-Gaztelu guides listeners through notable flamenco events, artists, and works from July to December 2025. The aim is to offer a mosaic of the genre’s creative pulse, celebrate achievements, pay tribute to late maestros, and preserve the voices, sounds, and writings integral to flamenco’s living tradition.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: The Third Journey through 2025

[00:01]

• Host summarizes previous episodes that covered the first half of 2025, introducing this third and final installment focused on diverse and significant events from July onward.
• Quote: “Lo que se desprende es la señal inequívoca de que el flamenco es un arte vivo, con una firme y vigorosa actividad creativa… Nuevas propuestas, sucesos, publicaciones, espectáculos y festivales dentro y fuera de España.” (A, 00:01)

2. Summer Highlights & Remembering the Departed

[00:01 - 16:20]

• Tribute to the guitar partnership of José María Gall del Rey & Miguel Ángel Cortés (July), and to late cantaores Ramón el Portugués and Frasquito.
• Reminiscence of Pepe Martínez’s guitar work, and the cante of Cobitos, Enrique Orozco, and Gaspar de Utrera.
• Interview Highlight: First interview with Chilean guitarist Andrés Hernández "Pituquete," presenting his albums Barrio de Santiago and Abra.
• Festival focus: Arturo Fernández introduces Flamenco Fire (Pamplona), emphasizing the festival as a communal space, with lineups featuring La Macanita, Rocío Márquez, Tomatito, etc.

3. Fresh Releases and Performances

[16:20 - 24:30]

• Daniel Castro Silva’s new album Rompiendo el silencio spotlit, with "Calentando el pucherito" featured.
  • Quote: “Jaleos extremeños de Daniel Castro Silva con la guitarra de Juan Vargas, la viola de Rosa Escobar, el bajo de José Jiménez y las percusiones de Josué Suárez.” (A, 16:20)
• Overview of important events:
  • Focus on the Bienal de Flamenco de Granada (Marina Heredia, Orquesta Ciudad de Granada).
  • Performances by Pedro el Granaíno, Maite Martín, Arcángel, Tomatito, Antonio Rey, Carmen Linares, among others.

4. Honoring Flamenco’s Past, Present, and Literary Bonds

[24:30 - 38:15]

• Centenary remembrance of Francisco Moreno Galván (artist, urbanist, flamenco lyricist).
• Review of Descubrir el flamenco by José Francisco Ortega Castejón.
• Mention of the Concurso Internacional del Baile Flamenco Jaleos Extremeños.
• Introduction of guitarist Alejandro Hurtado’s album El primer llanto, featuring “La petenera Renacer.”
• Enrique Morente and the 50th anniversary of the landmark album Se hace camino al andar underlined:
  • “En ese disco Morente comenzó a firmar cantes como originales suyos … su identidad como creador surge natural y fresca.” (A, 16:20)
  • Fandangos from that album are played ([24:36]).

Notable Moment:

• [30:49 - 33:44]
  • Manuel Gerena (with Juan and Pepe Habichuela, Rondeña, 1976) featured for his 80th birthday and 60-year career.
    • Quote: “Por el mundo la alegría y en la casa de los pobres y el hambre nunca se olvida.” (B, 30:49)

5. Fall & Early Winter: Books, Tributes, and New Talent

[33:44 - 40:06]

• Book features:
  • Juan Toro Barea presents Diego de Morón, Biografía del duende.
  • Tribute to maestro Fosforito, following his passing—a personal recollection by the host.
• Performance highlight:
  • Fosforito’s Soleá Apola (with Enrique de Melchor and Manolo Domínguez, 1980 recording).
    • Quote: “Todos los huesos de mi cuerpo desde que tú me has mirado … Que cuando no está conmigo hasta la ropa me quema.” (B, 35:43)

6. End-of-Year Spotlights

[40:06 - 52:33]

• New Work: Guitarrista Mercedes Luján presents Origen y revolución.
• Interviews:
  • Bailador Javier Barón (with Rosario Toledo “Caprichos”).
  • Guillermo Cano, marking his return after adversity, performing “La caña” ([40:06-43:49]).
• José de los Camarones’ album Aventuremos la vida showcased with the track "La colombiana," co-produced with Josema García Pelayo ([44:56-49:34]).
  • Quote (about his approach): “Soy así, lo cuento todo. Porque yo pa viví, nunca ensayo.” (B, 46:44)
• Literature:
  • Book: Medio siglo de oro de flamenco vivido en Almería by equipo Alfredo.
  • Voices and guitars of Granada spotlighted; Gema Caballero, with Javier Patino (guitar), Javier Morillas (cello), and Raúl Domínguez Soto (percussion), perform “Malagueña y jabera” live ([50:40-52:33]).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “Lo que se desprende es la señal inequívoca de que el flamenco es un arte vivo...” (A, 00:01)
• Manuel Gerena: “Por el mundo la alegría y en la casa de los pobres y el hambre nunca se olvida.” (B, 30:49)
• José de los Camarones: “Soy así, lo cuento todo. Porque yo pa viví, nunca ensayo.” (B, 46:44)
• Enrique Morente on authorship and identity: “...Morente comenzó a firmar cantes como originales suyos... su identidad como creador surge natural y fresca.” (A, 16:20)

Timestamps of Key Segments

| Time | Segment | |-----------|------------------------------------------------| | 00:01 | Introduction and framing of the 2025 retrospective | | 11:51 | Daniel Castro Silva - "Calentando el pucherito" (musical feature) | | 16:20 | Recap: Major summer 2025 events and figures | | 24:36 | Enrique Morente – Fandangos from Se hace camino al andar | | 30:49 | Manuel Gerena – Rondeña (80th birthday tribute)| | 35:43 | Fosforito – Soleá Apola (tribute after his passing) | | 40:06 | Guillermo Cano – "La caña" (comeback performance) | | 44:56 | José de los Camarones – "La colombiana" (new album showcase)| | 50:40 | Gema Caballero – Malagueña y jabera (live performance) |

Conclusion / Tone

The program blends warmth, deep respect, and affection for both tradition and innovation in flamenco. Velázquez-Gaztelu’s narration is intimate but thorough, balancing scholarly references (books, anniversaries, biographies) with the pulse of contemporary performances and personal memories. The tone is one of continuity, honoring both those who shaped flamenco’s foundations and those driving its creative present.

A must-listen for aficionados and newcomers alike—a masterful tapestry of voices, strings, and stories tracing flamenco’s living legacy through the final half of 2025.