Playbill | Israel Fernandez & Diego del Morao

Israel Fernandez & Diego del Morao NOV 2, 7:30 PM

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RECITAL CLÁSICO A classical format of singing, guitar, and hand claps in the traditional style, where Israel Fernandez weaves together a repertoire of flamenco legends with his own compositions.

Experience the tradition of cante jondo and Spanish classical and Flamenco guitar with two of today’s most celebrated young artists who are innovating the form.

In Israel Fernandez and in Diego del Morao, two worlds coexist: the ancient and the contemporary.

Israel has managed to rejuvenate the cante of yesteryear, endowing it with new elements and making it appealing for fans today.

Diego has the virtue, among many other things, of sounding classical and modern at the same time.

There is something truly special about Israel, this young singer from Toledo, Spain, whose voice voice encompasses a very wide spectrum of characteristics in which anguish, spirit and the gypsy world coexist with tempo, sweetness and musicality. Israel represents the present of flamenco and is destined to make history in this art. Despite his youth, he has become a reference for fans of cante, possessing enormous personality, perfect tuning, a devilish mastery of rhythm and an inordinate enthusiasm for an art that represents his way of life.

Diego is one of the most recognized flamenco guitarists of the moment, both nationally in Spain and internationally. Having been lauded by Paco de Lucia himself, Diego has a legion of followers who are in love with his personality and his passionate sense of rhythm. Diego has been able to create his own music, his own style, without losing respect for the tradition of his roots; his guitar playing is, possibly, one of the most recognizable among contemporary guitarists.

ISRAEL FERNÁNDEZ was born into a roma family of Andalusian origins settled in Corral de Almaguer (Toledo). His environment and culture quickly awakened in him that musical gift he treasures and his love for flamenco. From a very young age, he began to stand out

for his astonishing qualities, winning his first television contest at the age of 11 (Tu gran día, TVE). Since then, he has continued to grow in all aspects, and today he is considered one of the most important flamenco performers. He has managed to transcend beyond flamenco, capturing the attention of new audiences through his unique way of interpreting traditional singing.

Experts say his singing is a confluence of all the treasures left to us by the great flamenco geniuses, seasoned with the interpretive and creative freshness that the artist brings to everything he touches.

Currently, with five albums in the market, the last two of them, ‘Amor’ (Universal Music Spain, 2020) and ‘Pura Sangre’ (Universal Music Spain, 2023) have consolidated his position as one the great figures in his genre and the Spanish music. With ‘Amor,’ he has achieved significant milestones, such as entering the 7th position in sales in its second week of release, a nomination for ‘Best Flamenco Album’ at the Latin Grammy Awards 2021, and the industry award (Odeon) for ‘Best Flamenco Album.’ With ‘Pura Sangre’ he he has been nominated for ‘Best Flamenco Album’ at the Latin Grammy Awards 2023, and won recognition for one of the best Spanish albums by some of the most relevant music publications in Spain, including Mondo Sonoro, El País, Esquire ABC, and Elle magazine. GQ included him in its list of the 21 musicians with the greatest potential on the planet and Vanitatis magazine listed him number eight of the “Current Most Influential Musicians.” Furthermore, he has been one of the few Spaniards to record for the international platform Colors.

Alongside DIEGO DEL MORAO, Israel has formed a duo that has the potential to go down in flamenco history due to their continuous contributions. Diego is considered by many today as the most important and influential guitarist of his time, which is why he and Israel have formed a perfect tandem, constantly playing together to improvise melodically and rhythmically in each live performance, making each concert unique.

In the realm of composition, Diego plays a crucial role in the production of new music.

Charisma, talent, and freshness characterize this iconic pair within the flamenco scene.

Rafael Ramírez LO PRECISO NOV 4, 7:30 PM NOV 5, 5:00 PM Lo Preciso (Precision) is a rigorous contemporary Flamenco work by remarkable Spanish dancer and choreographer Rafael Ramírez. This intense solo dance work accompanied by live musicians is a dueling quest for artistic exactness and an ecstatic call and response delivery of the masculine prowess of the form.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR 2023/24 ART OF PERFORMANCE SPONSORS

This program is supported in part by the Art of Performance Fund, Arthur F. and Ulla R. Searing Endowment, Dorothy Jenkins Endowment at the John and Mable Ringling Museum, Ellin Family Art of Our Time Endowment, Ed & Elaine Keating Endowment, Ringling Art of Performance Endowment, Selby Foundation Ringling Museum Endowment, Cowles Charitable Trust, Huisking Foundation, David and Mary Benfer, Michael and Kathy Bush, Warren R. and Marie E. Colbert, Leon and Marge Ellin, Judith and Stephen Shank, and Marge and Irv Weiser.

THE RINGLING’S ART OF PERFORMANCE delivers broad access to provocative and timely performing arts that reflect a wide range of experiences, disciplines, and relevant cultural expressions. The series embodies The Ringling’s values of inclusion, inspiration, and excellence through programs that elevate community engagement, equitable partnerships, and the plural exchange of ideas in tandem with visiting artists. Besides public programs, we support Florida-based, national, and international performance makers in developmental residencies and creative research.

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is the State Art Museum of Florida administered by Florida State University. It features an art museum, historic mansion, circus museum, historic theater, conservation laboratory, arboretum, and research library, situated on 66-acres of bayfront property in Sarasota. The Ringling is an extraordinary center of art and culture engaging with the local, state, and global communities, and is accessible to and inclusive of all.

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We honor the resiliency of Indigenous communities, and we extend our gratitude as we live and work on their Homelands. We pay our respect to the Elders, both past and present, who have stewarded these lands and waters through generations since time immemorial.