Flamenco Eñe: David Carmona – Un Sueño de Locura at Sadler’s Wells

Sadlers Wells Theatre welcomed David Carmona yesterday for an evening of flamenco guitar. Most of the performance comprised tracks from his debut album Un Sueño de Locura (“A Dream of Madness”) – also the title of the show, which was part of the Flamenco Festival that’s been running in London for over two weeks. The artist gifted the audience with bulerías, tarantas, fandangos and other traditional flamenco tunes with the company of the talented Carmen Molina, who contributed her voice to most pieces, and the percussionist Miguel Carmona, cousin of the guitarist and a true joy to listen to.

Carmona made an effort to emphasise the fact that every song in his new album, available since March, has its own history and emotional process, something he likes to refer to as the “madness experience” – a factor that’s always necessary in the creation of art. Every segment of this performance tells a story that’s accessible to the listener – regardless of language barriers – as the guitar seems to speak a universal tongue of passionate and vivid chords.

The artist, a native of Granada and a true flamenco prodigy, comes from a family in which music has always been present, some of its members being professional musicians, known as the “Fernández de Íllora” family. Among them, Ramon de Loja and “El Moreno” have expanded their influence beyond their familiar and local environment. David, however, has been studying the art of flamenco since he was as young as 13 years old, being taught by the master Manolo Sanlúcar, who has recognised publicly that his student is an “adopted child” for him and a great figure in the future of the flamenco guitar, the real epicentre of his music and all traditional flamenco melodies.

Although it was over too soon, the brief flamenco show was an absolute delight for the ears, heart and mind. Nowadays it’s rare to find artists with such chemistry on stage. The connection and skill between them are such that sometimes, one had the sensation that they were just improvising in front of a wide audience. A great feeling worth repeating.

Maria Barios
Photo: Javier Algarra

Flamenco Eñe: David Carmona — Un Sueño de Locura was at Sadler’s Wells on 12^th July 2019. For further information visit the theatre’s website here.