Creating Bridges for Music

Is classical music in opposition to flamenco? Is it possible for two such apparently distant genres to converge? The answer is Arcángel. It took a fearless cantaor like Arcángel, from the Andalusian province of Huelva, who is close to flamenco tradition but always open to innovation, daring and the vanguard, to attempt the crossing from the shore line of the arias or interludios of Il Trovatore, The Barber of Seville or Madama Butterfly, or scores of zarzuela to the beach of flamenco.

The journey is, without doubt, promising and exciting. For Arcángel is not embarking on it alone. With musical direction reinforced by the wisdom of Isidro Muñoz, Arcángel counts on the direction, composition, arrangements and solo guitar of José María Gallardo del Rey. This is a musician with the gift of languages, who has spent ages seesawing brilliantly between the two genres. And then, there is the Quinteto Totem Ensemble, four of the five are members of the Royal Seville Symphony Orchestra (Real Orquesta Sinfónica de Sevilla–ROSS).

Arcángel does (bel) cante. With knowledge, responsibility and respect. But also aspiring to explore new horizons for classical music and flamenco. With Arcángel there are no opposing genres of music. To unite them there are only bridges.

Sponsor: elDiario.es/Andalucía