Alfredo Tejada: «My intervention at the Met has represented all the flamenco"the world's"

The singer from Granada is the first artist flamenco to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Sounds jondos at the largest classical music institution in the United States. «The flamenco It has that, it connects with the depth of people's souls and that is what makes it unique," he says.

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La New York Metropolitan Opera –Metropolitan Opera House, also known as the Metropolitan or the Met– is located in the Lincoln Center in New York ands one of the most important stages of world opera. It is The largest classical music institution in the United States, it hosts some 220 opera performances annually. The opera was performed there between October 15 and November 9. cante jondo de Alfredo Tejada (Málaga, 1979, adopted by Granada), who has played the character of Ruiz Alonso in the play Ainadamar, by the Argentine composer Osvaldo Golijov. The first time that a singer flamenco is coming to the Met. He is also boosted by the five nominations for his music video Heroes without a homeland at the Granada Film Festival and the publication this year of his fourth album, A silence in time.

– He has just become the first singer flamenco to perform at the Metropolitan Opera New York. What an experience, my lord.

– The truth is that it has been an experience full of emotions. Being able to participate and give voice to the flamenco at the most important Opera House in the world is not only an achievement for me but for the Flamenco itself and the entire path that our great predecessors masters traveled. It is a gift for the flamenco.

– You played the role of the Falangist who denounced Lorca and was ultimately instrumental in his arrest and murder. Was it difficult to get into that role?

– I have been collaborating for years with the composer Osvaldo Golijov and his work Ainadama, awarded with two Latin Grammys. It is ironic that the role is played by a singer flamenco, when we already know that Lorca was one of the great defenders of our art. But the requirement of flamenco interpretation and the raw and soulful sound of flamenco They give the character the strength he needs for the work. I hate Ruiz Alonso, but I love the score by Don Osvaldo Goligov.

– Have you felt in those moments at the Metropolitan as the representative of an entire universal art like that of flamenco?

– Honestly, the media coverage and the reviews from the most important newspapers in the world have been incredible. And it was Alfredo Tejada who was there. But logically above me is the flamenco and all its history. Everyone who put their grain of sand so that the flamenco be where it deserves. My intervention at the Met has been the representation of all the flamencos of the world.

– And how has the New York public reacted to such a display of depth in such a lyrical context?

– It's incredible the response of the American public to hearing a flamenco voice. It's been all praise and words of thanks. flamenco It has that which connects with the depth of people's souls and that is what makes it unique.

"It has been an experience full of emotions. Being able to participate and give voice to the flamenco at the most important opera house in the world is not only an achievement for me but for the flamenco itself and the entire path that our great predecessors masters traveled. It is a gift for the flamenco»

– Does he look more handsome? flamenco when you look at it from the outside?

– No, it is not more handsome, but it is given the importance it really has and I think that this is still a pending debt in Spain. The way of pampering it, treating it, and magnifying it as it deserves. This makes me feel melancholy and sad, seeing how at an institutional level it is still not given the place it deserves. Not even at the flamenco nor to the artists flamencos.

– In short, what have you learned from this unique experience in the capital of the world?

– That the greatness of the flamenco has no limits and is on a par with the best music. That is why it is able to be in the most important Opera House in the world.

Alfredo Tejada, Inadamar — A scene from Inadamar, at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Photo: Marty Sohl / Met Opera

– As if his successful time in the Big Apple were not enough, now the video clip Heroes without a homeland The film you star in received five nominations at the Granada Lorca Awards International Film Festival, specifically for best short film, art direction, soundtrack, photography and narrative script. You definitely seem very relaxed. in front of the camera.

– I have been working all my life not only as a singer, but also as a performer and composer. I started with Mario Maya, Cía Gades and many others. Now, together with the theatre director Miguel Serrano, who was the one who gave me the first guidelines, I have continued working to improve. Finding these five nominations is a great gift, because there is a lot of work behind it and without anyone's help. It is all sacrifice, love and my money to invest in my projects. That together with such a great human team makes everything worthwhile.

– You won the Lámpara Minera in La Unión in 2017. What did you think of the uproar on social media in the last edition due to the fact that a foreign dancer won the Desplante?

– I am not one to get into this kind of debate. There was a jury and they decided. It never rains to everyone's liking. Otherwise, instead of a jury, the public can vote and the debate is over, ha ha.

«Out there, it is given the importance it really deserves and I think that is a debt still pending in Spain. The way of pampering it, of treating it, of magnifying it as it deserves. That makes me melancholy and sad, seeing how at an institutional level it is still not given the place it deserves. Not even at the flamenco nor to the artists flamencos »

- He flamenco is it for everyone?

- flamenco It belongs to everyone who cares for it, loves it and respects it.

- He flamenco are you healthy?

– I think this question was also asked to Pepe Pinto and Pastora. The flamenco It is an art that will never die and that has the quality of being maintained because it is a timeless art.

- He flamenco is going in the right direction?

– Well, I think so. We tend to be too critical and the only thing we have to do is To do this is to row all in the same direction to unify forces. Helping everyone artists who work their asses off putting their own money into releasing their records.I miss more support at an institutional level. I am a very fair person and I have never liked cronyism. We have the obligation to take care of ourselves, because it is a first-class art.

– And now what?

– I am now on my fifth album, an album of couplets in bulerías and tangos. A tribute to all the greats like Bambino, Fernanda, Amina, Miguel de los Reyes, etc. Later I want to get into recording a new anthology of the cante on double disc. Singing is my salvation.