Renowned flamenco guitarist Paco Peña will be performing at Idaho State University on Wednesday, Feb. 6. The performance will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Jensen Grand Concert Hall of the Stephens Performing Arts Center.
“Paco Peña” is part of ISU’s Season of Note series. The performance will incorporate flamenco choreography with Peña’s guitar creating the musical setting.
Born in 1942, Peña was attracted to flamenco at an early age.
“I discovered as a child the depth of expression flamenco has and the beauty it can display,” said Peña.
With lifelong experience, it’s no surprise that Peña is considered one of the foremost performers in the genre.
“[Flamenco] ‘bit me’ early, very young, so I have been doing this all my life,” said Peña.
Tickets for the performance are available through the ISU ticketing office online or in the Stevens Performing Arts Center. Main floor seats are $26 and balcony seats are $22. According to Peña, audience members can expect exciting music and dance.
Flamenco as a dance and music style hails from southern Spain. The word flamenco means to have the quality of fire.
“[Flamenco] deals with fundamental human emotions in a direct, honest, passionate, uncompromising way that comes directly from the complex culture that has produced it,” said Peña.
A quick listen to Peña’s work provides insight into the fiery nature of his music and flamenco as a whole. Peña uses impressive musical skill on the guitar to convey the hallmark sound of flamenco.
Peña’s “Medina Azahara” is one excellent example of his work and of flamenco as a whole. Using only guitar, Peña’s music is passionate yet sensitive. Guitar and music lovers alike can delight in the sound created by Peña’s innovative riffs.
Peña said his sound is inspired by both good and bad displayed by the world around us.
For potential audience members who are curious about what flamenco sounds like, or those who are not sure if they like flamenco, Peña’s music can be listened to through applications like Spotify or sampled on Last.fm.
With dance and music, flamenco has something for nearly everyone. Peña describes the experience as happy but thoughtful.
“Above all, my most important aim is to get people moved by the experience,” he said.