Paco Peña to bring flamenco to Wichita State

Singer Angel and a fiery male dancer named Antonio with partners Maria and Marta will display flamenco artistry while singing and dancing to the rhythms of Paco Peña’s passionate Spanish guitar music at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 1, in Miller Concert Hall.

Paco Peña Flamenco Dance Company will perform in WSU’s last Connoisseur Series event this season.

Peña, the Losada brothers – Tito and Vaky — and singer Angel Gabarre and dancers Antonio Alcázar, Maria Juncal and Marta Fernández have toured the world sharing a symbol of Spain —flamenco music.

"Mr. Peña is a genuine virtuoso, capable of dazzling an audience with technical abilities beyond the frets of mortal man," says The New York Times.

"The maestro’s deft playing of the Spanish guitar, a sonorous instrument that in his hands seems capable of shedding tears of both joy and despair, was a thrilling spectacle," says The Globe and Mail in Toronto.

Peña was born in Cordoba, Spain, making his professional debut at age 12. On his first visit to London in the late ’60s he found a receptive audience, which greatly encouraged him to continue his career. Today his United Kingdom concerts regularly sell out.

Peña won the coveted best flamenco guitarist of the year for five consecutive years, voted by readers of America’s Guitar Magazine. He has been professor of flamenco guitar at Rotterdam Conservatory since 1985. The flamenco mass "Misa Flamenca" written by Peña and launched in 1991 has been recorded, filmed and universally acclaimed in countries around the world.

Peña’s "Arte y Pasión" had its European premiere in London in 1997, after which the company toured the production around the world. Peña’s latest production "Musa Gitana" was performed in the Peacock Theatre in London for seven weeks making it the longest run for a flamenco show.

Call 978-3233 to reserve tickets. Prices start at $16 with discounts available.