Flamenco Greats: Enrique Morente

Enrique Morente is considered one of the most renowned flamenco singers in Spain and internationally. He is considered one of the most revolutionary flamenco artists of the end of last century and the beginning of the 21st century. Teatro Flamenco Sevilla tells you why.

The beginnings of Enrique Morente in flamenco

Enrique Morente was born on Christmas Day in 1942 in the Granada area of Albaicin. 

His passion for flamenco singing comes from his family, with its flamenco guitar playing and singing influences. 

The singer learned the basics of the cante jondo from Aurelios Sellés and his unending ambition for learning and improving led him to move to Madrid when he was just 15 years old. This change of circumstances brought with it huge growth and professional development. 

During these years, Madrid was in a moment of cultural and artistic rebirth and becoming one of the epicentres of flamenco.

In addition, at this time at the beginning of the 1960s, flamenco was experiencing change and new influences, which Enrique Morente began to incorporate into his repertoire adapting his pure flamenco style. His innovative attitude and willingness to explore and experiment with flamenco art gave him a solid base for his artistic evolution in the following years. 

These years in Madrid marked an important stage in his career where his talent and dedication to flamenco began to blend with the musical influences in the city. As a professional, those years that he lived in Madrid were to be extremely important in his quest to become an renowned figure in the flamenco shows in Spain and the international flamenco scene. 

His first successes as a flamenco singer

Enrique Morente performed his first show in the flameno association, Charlot, a well-known flamenco venue at the time where different flamenco artists such as Pepe de la Matrona, Carmen LInares or Fosforito, amongst others, performed.

Following his debut, he performed in different places, but his big professional break came with a performance in the Spanish Pavillion at the International Exhibition in New York and in the Spanish embassy in Washington. 

He continued with appearances in many flamenco shows and flamenco festivals.

In 1967 he launched his first album entitled Flamenco Song in which his knowledge and experience is reflected in the technical execution and the selection of songs which included many that were unusual at the time, such as song of Frasquito Hierbabuena, caña, songs of Pedro El Morato, mirabrás, soleás and seguiriyas.

In that same year, he published another record entitled Old Flamenco Songs where he was accompanied by Niño Ricardo, proving his flamenco expertise.

Innovation and tradition

Enrique Morente is one of the most important flamenco artists, not only in flamenco but also in Spanish culture. This recognition is down to his constant innovation and experimentation with fusions, elements of sound from other musicians and collaborations with different musical genres.

These collaborations, such as the one we can hear with Lagartija Nick on the Omega album, have linked the figure of Morente with the word avant-garde. 

Despite his love of innovation, Enrique Morente always showed a deep respect for maintaining and preserving flamenco tradition. Thanks to his knowledge of the classical flamenco rules and his capacity for transmitting emotion and passion he became an admired flamenco artist throughout the world, studied in all the flamenco schools and appreciated in all the most important flamenco shows.

The legacy of this great flamenco artist will live on and his contributions have left a legacy in modern flamenco.

Finding flamenco full of magic and emotion, like Enrique Morente, is complicated but in Teatro Flamenco Sevilla we have a very special place with unique voices, dancers and musicians able to get you out of your seat. Marvel at our flamenco artists in the most popular daily, live flamenco show, Passion at Teatro Flamenco Sevilla. Book your tickets here to experience a unique moment you will remember for the rest of your life.