Music from the Heart A Tribute to Paco de Lucía
Kevin Le Gendre
Known as one of the most popular types of Spanish folk music, Flamenco is also a highly sophisticated art form in which song and dance blend into one mesmerizing corps à corps. The guitar is the most emblematic instrument in the genre, and the trailblazer who took it to an unparalleled degree of virtuosity, all the while building a large international audience, was the late Paco de Lucía. His breathtaking solo and ensemble concerts touched countless hearts and minds the world over. Tonight’s tribute to him brings together a stellar ensemble in contemporary flamenco, consisting of the Barcelona Guitar Trio, percussionist Paquito Escudero, and renowned Iraqi oud player Naseer Shamma (who has been closely associated with the Pierre Boulez Saal since its opening). These artists will serve de Lucía’s memory as faithfully as possible, first and foremost because they recognize his immense stature. “Paco is the absolute master of flamenco,” Shamma comments, “and what he did for this music was incredible. With the other musicians we agreed to do something in his honor because I was very moved by his work when he was alive—the music was so special.” Xavier Coll of the Barcelona Guitar Trio has no hesitation in stating de Lucía’s great relevance to the ongoing development of flamenco. “Paco de Lucía was and
