You hear more of Poveda's magnificent voice here, in the copla "A ciegas" from Pedro Almodóvar's movie Broken Embraces: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3CJiJX-qLE

Dear kimhe,

I've checked your links and I really want to see one of the dancers performing..The thing is I will only be in Barcelona 2 nights (24th-26th April 2013) and I'm finding difficulty finding their performance schedules. Who will be performing in Barcelona that can be a real Flamenco experience? This is my first time watching Flamenco.

Alas if none of the dancers will be performing on those 2 nights, where is the best place to see a flamenco?

The Tablao Cordobés schedule for the end of April is not set yet. They nevertheless continue with a very strong programme through February to mark the centenary for the birth of the greatest flamenco dancer of all times, Carmen Amaya (1913-1963) from Barcelona. In this 'In Memory of Carmen Amaya' performance, dancers like Pastora Galván and El Junco will take part.
Pastora Galván: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2SBUcrJgeQ
El Junco: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sENoCuTQYPs

Nothing that suggests that Tabalo Cordobés will stop the trend of hiring the absolute top artists in the coming months. http://www.tablaocordobes.com/espectaculo_flamenco/

Tablao de Carmen, set up in memory of the same Carmen Amaya on the site where she made her public debut at 16 in 1929 in front of king Alfonso XIII at the opening of the Poble Espanyol, is another high quality tablao/flamenco restaurant. http://www.tablaodecarmen.com/index.php?lang=en

Haven't been here, but the tablao gets great reviews:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187497-d244874-Reviews-El_Tablao_de_Carmen-Barcelona_Catalonia.html

Both these places are oriented towards tourists, but they only present top artists that normally tour the greatest stages both in Spain and abroad. Could at least be an excellent intro to the beauty of the art form.

The top flamenco artists also tour Barcelona theaters all the time. Such performances will normally be much more of an event and a profound experience that can get you hooked for life, normally a local and very knowledgeable crowd. Most of the major concerts are updated on this site: http://www.deflamenco.com/conciertos-flamenco-en-barcelona.html

Going myself to Barcelona in May to see the world's top flamenco singer at the moment Miguel Poevda finish his one year grand tour of arteSano in his hometown: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o5Z9mOlS3k

I'm tagging on this thread. What are the opinions of this flamenco performance?

http://www.classictic.com/en/gran_gala_flamenco/12570/165338/

Or this:

http://www.classictic.com/en/opera___flamenco/10060/165351/

adrienne,

Both seem to be very popular shows, Ópera & Flamenco run for the ninth year or something in Barcelona. Not mentioned though in any of the major flamenco magazines (deflamenco, flamenco-world or guiaflama), and in both cases I think you'll be up for a quite predicatable performance based on most of the flamenco passion cliches.

If you want a true flamenco experience, I would highly recommend to seek flamenco theater performances staged by individual artists, whether they are singers, guitarists or dancers. Most performances would include all the basic elements of flamenco, that is song (cante), guitarra (toque) and dance (baile).

Three examples from the top of my mind:
One of the world's greates guitarist regardless of genre, Paco de Lucía (with Farru dancing): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrxGsksJusU

Miguel Poveda, the most successfull flamenco singer today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o5Z9mOlS3k

The baile genious Rocío Molina: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYaY4zZgTas

I went to Tablao de Carmen on my December 2012 trip. It was well worth the price and the slight difficulties in getting there (I'm seriously geographically challenged and can sometimes get lost in my own home town).

Since I haven't seen any other Flamenco shows I have nothing to compare it to. I thought the dancing was very good, the music was mostly good, some of the singers were a bit... odd. It was also rather noisy.

I'd chosen the show and tapas alternative and got a table upstairs with a good view of the stage. The tapas were perfectly fine (except possibly the sauce on the potatoes) and more than enough for me. Water was included, so I did not need to buy anything extra to drink. I did not feel like the waiters were upset about a single person taking up a table.

Tablao de Carmen is in Poble Espanyol. The village is very touristy, with lots of little shops. But most of it had closed down by the time the show started, which can feel a bit scary when walking back to the bus stop in the dark after the show. Of course, in the summer it will still be light out and the atmosphere should feel very different.

I'm considering going back to Barcelona again this winter, if I can save up enough money (I'm going to Amsterdam and Paris in the summer, so I'd have to start over on saving money in July). If I do, I will try one of the other Flamenco shows so I can compare them.

Thanks for the suggestions!

anyegr,

Flamenco song (cante) is like nothing else and the very essence of the art, before both guitar and dance. People tend to love it or to hate it. At its best it has got a cathartic effect that is labeled "duende". Could be described as "irrationality, earthiness, a heightened awareness of death, and a dash of the diabolical". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duende_(art)

A couple of young cantaoras (female flamenco singers) coming close.

Alba Carmona from Barcelona (1-1.30 mins): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIaxlpFQnDo

Rocío Márquez from Huelva: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwAnMBUXGLQ

And legendary Enrique Morente who died much to early a couple of years ago. Up in Alhambra in his hometown Granada together with brilliant guitarist Tomatito: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqQsKbBRe_Q

kimhe: I have been finding all of your details in various posts to be fantastic. We will only be able to stay one night in Barcelona at the beginning and then at the end of a cycling trip, so I have been seeking unique suggestions. You pack more information into each reply than some people do into trip reports.

As to your "love or hate" explanation of Flamenco cante, boy do I agree. I first heard it a couple of years ago in Palma del Rio. I was really moved and enchanted; my husband and daughter HATED it.

Thanks, AlessandraZoe!

If you say which dates in Barcelona, I might have a suggestion.

Sorry it took so long to get back to you, kimhe. Our two stays in Barcelona are pretty darn short--a matter of hours--but I'd love it if you could make them count!

Ok, see if you can work miracles...

Our flights lands at BCN the morning of Thurs September 26.

1)We're staying at the Hotel DO Plaça Reial.
2)If our room is ready, we'll probably just snooze (contrary to all jetlag logic, we've found over time that if we just get two or three hours of sleep upon arrival, we immediately can adjust).
3)If our room is not ready until the official check-in time of 2, then we'll do stuff until we drop. I really want to see Gaudi buildings more than anything, and if we can do Flamenco that evening, great.

The next day, the 27th is wiped out because we have to meet our cycling group at 10:30.

We return to Barcelona around 1:30 pm October 2, and then we'll fly out 10:45 am Oct 3rd.

I have not yet decided where we'll stay, and since we shall not be suffering from sleep deprivation, I do not care if we don't sleep at all that night!

So I'm really testing your creativity....
Thanks!

You might get a feel of the big annual Mercé celebrations, the official events will be over by the 24th but many activities in the coming days as well.
http://barcelona.de/en/barcelona-la-merce.html
The 2012 program will give you an idea: http://merce.bcn.cat/

The major flamenco concerts in Barcelona is updated here: http://www.deflamenco.com/conciertos-flamenco-en-barcelona.html

But as said before, only great arists performing every night at both Tablao Cordobés and Tablao de Carmen (in memory of the greatest flamenco dancer ever, Carmen Amaya from Barcelona).

The current top flamenco performers from the Barcelona area include:
Miguel Poveda (song): http://www.miguelpoveda.com/
Mayte Martín (song): http://www.mayte-martin.com/
Duquende (song): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWtWE-VHfRk
Cañizares (guitar): http://www.jmcanizares.com/
Alba Carmona and Las Migas (song ++): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIaxlpFQnDo
Belén López (dance): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hbhkIWSX-Q

Thank you so very much, kimhe.
AZ