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I confess that in Malaga the rain scares us, it puts us off, we wish for it because it is very necessary, but we avoid socializing too much if it is raining. Because not even the rain could contain the desire to listen to Israel Fernandez, which filled the Teatro Cervantes of an audience eager to welcome him and give him warmth, while contributing to the charitable cause called for by Red Cross and the General Foundation of the University of Malaga. After the corresponding words from the representatives of both institutions, the recital began.
Seeking to generate expectation, first appeared Ane Carrasco and he gave us a percussion solo. Afterwards, the palmeros, Pirulo and Marcos Carpio, they entered to accompany him. With a great ovation he joined Diego of Morao and finally, the star, Israel Fernández.
Buleria por soleá or bulería pa Listening was the letter of introduction, in which the singer from La Mancha was a bit nervous and looked for his place without quite finding it. The musical support provided by Diego del Morao is fundamental, as it allows him to go looking for inspiration while the audience goes crazy with the touch of the Jerez native.
In the second cante, the taranta of Vallejo, a more focused Israel appeared, making the cante with great pleasure, cut out y pinched, interspersing classic lyrics with new ones from his album Polenta Blood and he searched for himself, grieving.
«The magical moment of the night was when Israel Fernández sat down at the piano. (…) He thrilled us with his interpretation of granaína y media and malagueña by Mellizo with lyrics of his own. We found him comfortable, eager to thrill, giving himself with generosity, giving us flamenco and beauty»
In the tientos and tangos he grew and began to enjoy that display of high tones that has been his trademark for a long time, which reminds us of the last Camarón and which excites a large part of his followers. Certainly, he does some filigree work because his voice is very fast and he tunes perfectly, but this abuse of high tones, in addition to eroding his throat, ends up being tedious.
Diego del Morao's solo demonstrated the state of his playing, full of palate combined with virtuosity, and served as a magnificent transition to a more intimate part of the show, as the magical moment of the night, without a doubt, was when Israel Fernández sat down at the piano. He told us about his involvement with the Red Cross cause, who I had met first hand that morning, and humbly said that he was a mere self-taught musician, as he had not had the opportunity to take classes, but he showed that with passion and excessive enthusiasm everything can be achieved, and he moved us with his interpretation of granaína y media and malagueña by Mellizo with lyrics of his own. We found him comfortable, eager to move, giving himself with generosity, giving us flamenco and beauty.
Finally, the bulerías of the entire group, with an admirable rapport. When Israel tackles the middle tones and even the low ones –as he did in the delicious brushstroke of Sweetie- teaches us a velvet voice, much more interesting and capable of pellizco that its sharp, so from here we invite you to investigate those registers. The bulerías were well-rounded, led by Diego del Morao and his Jerez sound that oozes from the pores of his skin, and of course by Israel Fernández, enjoying the cante, showing off his fast-paced voice and unfailing rhythm in his tongue twisters.
As expected, the audience gave him a standing ovation, and with a little paw of art of the palmerosThey said goodbye leaving a tasty taste in the mouth.
Credits
Recital by Israel Fernandez
Charity concert 'Freeing Humanity from Fear' – Red Cross
Cervantes Theatre, Malaga
28th October 2024
Capacity: Full
Cante: Israel Fernandez
Guitar: Diego del Morao
Palmas: Pirulo and Marcos Carpio
Percussion: Ané Carrasco
Piano: Israel Fernandez
