Flamenco Festival : Olga Pericet, Sadler's Wells, London (GB) - Jul 11, 2023

A solo dance performance by Pericet (who also composed, directed and choreographed) accompanied by José Mañuel León & Alfredo Mesa (or José Tomás) guitars/composers/arrangers, Juanfe Pérez bass, Roberto Jaén percussion and Israel Moro vocal. Entitled La Leona (the name of a famous 19th century Spanish guitar), the piece was a bravura dance performance exploring the symbolic relationship between the animal and the instrument, according to the blurb. Also to do with the interaction of flamenco and other musics I guess. I was rather underwhelmed by the dancing because, despite the technical quality, it was often too showy, melodramatic. The musicians were impressive, particularly the percussionist, the bass player (who got some highly unusual sounds from what looked like a five-string fretless bass guitar) and the singer. Reviewed by Matthew Paluch at broadwayworld.com, Jane Darcey at The Reviews Hub, Monica Costa at London Mums Magazine, all 12 July 2023, and Siobhan Murphy at The Stage, 17 July 2023.