Carmen Carmona Lara Crowned Champion at 45th Ferro’s International Cante Festival
The 45th edition of the Ferro’s international Cante Festival concluded on Saturday, July 26, with Carmen Carmona Lara taking home the prestigious golden melon for most complete singer.Lara’s winning performance featured her renditions of Malaga, continuediya, and bulerías.
The coveted Molino de Lo Ferro award journeyed to Jaén with Juan Carmona Pérez, recognized for his Ferreña singing, a piece dedicated to the earth and composed by the esteemed Maestro Fosforito. Emilio Chaparro Serrano impressed the judges with his performances in the fandango category, showcasing his talent in continuediya, Farruca, and Malaga with abandolao.
José Antonio Romero secured the prize for rhythm cantes, delivering powerful performances of grain y medio, Tangos, and Siguiya.Francisco Ocón Cuadrado triumphed in the basic cantes category with his renditions of granain y medio,Toná,and Guajira.
The evening was further elevated by the accompaniment of guitarists Antonio Fernández “El Torero” and Antonio Carrión, who supported the finalists throughout the night. This year’s festival also saw the Ferro Festival bestow its gold medal upon the city of Puente Genil, acknowledging its role as a cradle of flamenco art, a staunch defender and disseminator of the genre, and the birthplace of Antonio Fernández Díaz “Fosforito.”
The mayor of Torre Pacheco, Pedro Ángel Roca, alongside the president of the Flamenco Melón de Oro, Mariano Escudero, presented the award to Puente Genil’s mayor. Roca highlighted the shared passion for flamenco between the two cities.
The Ferro flamenco Ballet, under the direction of Mª Dolores Ros and Cynthia Cano, delivered a captivating performance honoring flamenco legend Cristina Hoyos with thier piece “Cristina Hoyos y su estrella,” bringing a memorable close to the festival. Earlier in the day, attendees were treated to an insightful talk between Fosforito and Cristina Hoyos at the Sebastián Escudero Theater, where they shared their extensive life and professional experiences in flamenco. The festival’s success has left audiences eagerly anticipating its 46th edition.
