A Masterclass in Modern Heritage, where Ángeles Toledano, a rising Flamenco singer and dancer, combines tradition and innovation with her MPC standalone music production system device. Born in Villanueva de la Reina, in the Andalusian province of Jaen, she studied in Seville with masters Jose de la Tomasa and Julian Estrada.
At the Roulette Intermedium tonight, Ángeles Toledano delivered a performance that felt less like a standard concert and more like a visceral exploration of the flamenco soul. She started to studying Flamenco with her grandfather when she was seven, and began singing at the age of eight in public.
As part of the 25th Anniversary Flamenco Festival New York, Toledano’s New York debut, co-presented by Robert Browning Associates, balanced the weight of Andalusian tradition with a sharp, contemporary edge.
Accompanied by the masterful guitarist Benito Bernal, Toledano moved through selections from her Latin Grammy-nominated album, Sangre Sucia, with a voice that shifted effortlessly from a haunting, vulnerable whisper to a thunderous, earth-shaking cante.
The duo’s chemistry was undeniable; Bernal’s intricate phrasing provided a rich, rhythmic landscape that allowed Toledano to deconstruct traditional forms while remaining firmly rooted in their emotional truth. They have been performing together for many years. Bernal is from Villanueva de los Castillejos, a town nestled within the heart of the Andévalo region of Huelva province. He studied at the Conservatory of Music in Córdoba and in 2022, he marked his solo debut at the XXII Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla, a significant milestone mentored by Dani de Morón.
The evening was defined by its “Himno Vertical” spirit: a ritualistic journey through themes of life, death, and resilience. By stripping the performance down to its essential elements of voice and guitar, Toledano highlighted the raw power of the cante style, offering a “gentle nod” to the legacy of Federico García Lorca and La Argentinita.
The acoustics of the historic Boerum Hill Roulette Intermedium theatre perfectly captured every percussive heel-tap and breathy lament, creating an intimate atmosphere that bridged the gap between the sunny streets of Jaén and the avant-garde energy of Brooklyn.
It was a bold statement from a rising star who isn’t afraid to let her “dirty blood” stain the pristine edges of tradition, proving that flamenco is not a museum piece, but a living, breathing force.
Highlights of upcoming Flamenco Festival shows in NYC:
- Sara Baras: March 5–8 at New York City Center.
- Ángeles Toledano: Tonight, March 7 at Roulette Intermedium (Brooklyn).
- Rosario “La Tremendita”: March 8 at Joe’s Pub.
- Olga Pericet: March 15 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Presented by:
www.robertbrowningassociates.com
Roulette Intermedium
509 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
917 267 0363
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