Antonio Carrión celebrated his 50th anniversary on stage in Madrid with a moving tribute.
The Ateneo de Madrid hosted the tribute to guitarist Antonio Carrión's fifty years on stage in the 'Manuel de Falla' Concert Series with the cante by Anabel de Vico and Manuel Cástulo.
Hats off. It had to be in Madrid. It was in the capital where the cork was uncorked to toast the prolific guitarist's first fifty years on stage. Antonio Carrion, who will surely receive several awards this year to commemorate the anniversary.
José Manuel Hernández organizes with taste and success the 'Manuel de Falla' Concert Series, which includes several evenings of flamenco, as is the case of this tribute in which the following participated: cante the palatial one Anabel de Vico and the Mairenero Manuel Castulo, in addition to the honoree and his grandson Francisco, who at only ten years of age already plays the guitar with some ease. Athenaeum of Madrid opened its doors to the experience of the sonanta and to cante and was filled with an audience of dedicated fans, family and friends of the artist who wanted to accompany him on this very special evening in his career. Journalists, photographers, flamencologists, artists, and club members from Madrid and its surrounding areas attended the event, which was organized in collaboration with the Peña Flamenca Duende, from which I was able to greet many of its members with great joy. paul san nicasio He introduced and acted as master of ceremonies, conducting the event in a pleasant and dynamic manner so as not to make it eternal.
Two and a half hours of moving tribute ran on a Palm Sunday afternoon. It could have been four, because it seemed so short. The audience alternated between watching a video summarizing his artistic journey with archive footage of interviews and performances, with the touch of Antonio and his grandson, and the cantes of Anabel and Cástulo.
It had been fifty years since his father Carrion of Mairena He bought his first guitar in the Seville store of the Lozano Brothers, when Antonio was ten years old. Exactly the age his grandson is now, to whom he gave one from the same place, on Zaragoza Street, in the guitar shop they now occupy. Álvarez and BernalHistory repeats itself and Expoflamenco He was a faithful witness to the alternative to the young guitarist. "Fifty years and it seems like it was yesterday. With the guitar, time flies by because I've worked and continue to work in what I love, thanks to God and my parents," said Antonio, touched by sensitivity.
«I am a backing guitarist to cante, not a concert artist"
Of the three main facets of the guitar, Antonio is clear about where he stands. «The cante is the protagonist. One is the bullfighter and the other is the subordinate. One cannot outshine the singer, but rather enrich what he does. An accompanying guitarist has to really like the cante, you have to listen a lot cante"Be a good fan, listen to and distinguish many different styles. Because Lebrija, for example, has a certain flavor. Utrera, Jerez, or Morón have others."
Carrión has accompanied almost every artist he's met along the way. From different categories and generations. He's touched everyone. It would be easier to name who he hasn't. He's been touched by the voices of Emilio Cabello, Jesus Carrillo, Curro Vázquez, Kiki from Castilblanco, Paco Moya, José Parrondo… Just like those of Diego Clavel, The Lebrijano, Chocolate, Chano Lobato, Curro Malena, Reefer o The Girl from La Puebla, to list a handful.
«Visibly devoted and full of emotions, bursts of gratitude flowed from his fingertips in the form of bell-like drones, strums flamencoand deep falsetas of today and always. The applause was thunderous and eternal, overwhelming.
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1. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Ateneo de Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
2. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Ateneo de Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
3. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Ateneo de Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
4. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Ateneo de Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
5. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Ateneo de Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
6. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Ateneo de Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
7. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Ateneo de Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
8. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Ateneo de Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
9. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Ateneo de Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
10. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Ateneo de Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
11. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Ateneo de Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
12. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Ateneo de Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
13. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Ateneo de Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
14. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Ateneo de Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
15. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Ateneo de Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
16. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Ateneo de Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
17. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Ateneo de Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
18. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Ateneo de Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
19. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Ateneo de Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
20. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Ateneo de Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
21. With Pablo San Nicasio. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage. Ateneo de Madrid. Manuel de Falla Concert Series. April 13, 2025.
With Pablo San Nicasio. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
22. With Pablo San Nicasio. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage. Ateneo de Madrid. Manuel de Falla Concert Series. April 13, 2025.
With Pablo San Nicasio. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
23. With Anabel de Vico. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage, Ateneo de Madrid, Manuel de Falla Concert Series, April 13, 2025
With Anabel de Vico. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
24. With Anabel de Vico. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage, Ateneo de Madrid, Manuel de Falla Concert Series, April 13, 2025
With Anabel de Vico. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
25. With Anabel de Vico. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage, Ateneo de Madrid, Manuel de Falla Concert Series, April 13, 2025
With Anabel de Vico. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
26. With Anabel de Vico. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage, Ateneo de Madrid, Manuel de Falla Concert Series, April 13, 2025
With Anabel de Vico. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
27. With Anabel de Vico. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage, Ateneo de Madrid, Manuel de Falla Concert Series, April 13, 2025
With Anabel de Vico. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
28. With Anabel de Vico. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage, Ateneo de Madrid, Manuel de Falla Concert Series, April 13, 2025
With Anabel de Vico. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
29. With Anabel de Vico. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage, Ateneo de Madrid, Manuel de Falla Concert Series, April 13, 2025
With Anabel de Vico. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
30. With Anabel de Vico. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage, Ateneo de Madrid, Manuel de Falla Concert Series, April 13, 2025
With Anabel de Vico. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
31. Manuel Cástulo. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage. Madrid Athenaeum. Manuel de Falla Concert Series. April 13, 2025.
Manuel Cástulo. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
32. Manuel Cástulo. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage. Madrid Athenaeum. Manuel de Falla Concert Series. April 13, 2025.
Manuel Cástulo. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
33. Manuel Cástulo. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage. Madrid Athenaeum. Manuel de Falla Concert Series. April 13, 2025.
Manuel Cástulo. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
34. Manuel Cástulo. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage. Madrid Athenaeum. Manuel de Falla Concert Series. April 13, 2025.
Manuel Cástulo. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
35. Manuel Cástulo. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage. Madrid Athenaeum. Manuel de Falla Concert Series. April 13, 2025.
Manuel Cástulo. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
36. Manuel Cástulo. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage. Madrid Athenaeum. Manuel de Falla Concert Series. April 13, 2025.
Manuel Cástulo. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
37. Manuel Cástulo. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage. Madrid Athenaeum. Manuel de Falla Concert Series. April 13, 2025.
Manuel Cástulo. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
38. Manuel Cástulo. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage. Madrid Athenaeum. Manuel de Falla Concert Series. April 13, 2025.
Manuel Cástulo. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
39. Manuel Cástulo. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage. Madrid Athenaeum. Manuel de Falla Concert Series. April 13, 2025.
Manuel Cástulo. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
40. With his grandson Francisco. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage, Ateneo de Madrid, Manuel de Falla Concert Series, April 13, 2025
With his grandson Francisco. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
41. With his grandson Francisco. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage, Ateneo de Madrid, Manuel de Falla Concert Series, April 13, 2025
With his grandson Francisco. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
42. With his grandson Francisco. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage, Ateneo de Madrid, Manuel de Falla Concert Series, April 13, 2025
With his grandson Francisco. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
43. With his grandson Francisco. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage, Ateneo de Madrid, Manuel de Falla Concert Series, April 13, 2025
With his grandson Francisco. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
44. With his grandson Francisco. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage, Ateneo de Madrid, Manuel de Falla Concert Series, April 13, 2025
With his grandson Francisco. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
45. José Manuel Hernández. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage. Ateneo de Madrid. Manuel de Falla Concert Series. April 13, 2025.
José Manuel Hernández. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
46. José Manuel Hernández. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage. Ateneo de Madrid. Manuel de Falla Concert Series. April 13, 2025.
José Manuel Hernández. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
47. José Manuel Hernández. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage. Ateneo de Madrid. Manuel de Falla Concert Series. April 13, 2025.
José Manuel Hernández. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
48. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Ateneo de Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
49. Menese Screening. Antonio Carrión, 50 Years on Stage, Ateneo de Madrid, Manuel de Falla Concert Series, April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
50. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Ateneo de Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
51. Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Ateneo de Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13, 2025
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Manuel de Falla Concert Series April 13th 2025
"I based my style on Melchor's playing, although I also like Niño Ricardo, Manolo de Huelva, and Manolo de Badajoz."
His beginnings were with his father, who sang in competitions, peñaand with friends. He gave his first classes in San José de la Rinconada (Seville) with Pepe OnionBut he kept stealing things from Henry of Melchior y Melchor de Marchena. After many others, taking from here and there. And accompanying many singers, whether amateurs or great figures, to bring out the best in each one. He's very observant. He likes to listen to everyone, talk and get along with people, not argue. He's "down-to-earth and humble, without giving a damn."
«Melchor and Ricardo are the two pillars of accompaniment playing. Two springs from which today's guitarists must drink. They are the Bible. At first, my idol was Enrique. He would go into the dressing rooms so my uncle could play with him. Manolo Guillén I would take a picture with him. Later I had him as a partner, being an artist myself, and he accompanied me on an album I recorded singing, where they also collaborated Moraíto Chico, Paco Cortes, Manolo Franco, Peter Sierra o Domi of Morón»
"I found what I liked in the singers of Mairena."
He was born in Seville and raised first in San José de la Rinconada. But he considers himself a Mairena native and a supporter of Mairena. He found in those echoes what attracted him. And he was closely linked to the House of MairenaAlthough he spent at least 16 or 17 years with Curro Malena, with whom he learned a lot, it was at the side of Manuel Mairena where the poison of this lineage penetrated him. And he maintained friendship, in addition to sharing tables and parties, with all of them: with Curro, Antonio...
"I'm just another member of the club"
"Where lectures are best heard, cante, dance and guitar is in the peñas. I am just another member of the club. The members and fans of the peñaThey are the ones who keep the flame of the flamenco. And whenever I can, I help the peñas». In fact, Antonio Carrión is the president of the Peña Flamenca The Búcaro of San José de la Rinconada, whose Casa del Arte Flamenco was labeled with his name as the owner.
Shake
«Menese was like a second father to me. I have always loved him, admired him, and will always admire him. With him, I took the big leap. The train passed by my door by chance and I got on. I was listed as Niño Carrión on the poster for a festival in the Peña The Búcaro next to the great Pedro Peña, who was feeling ill and couldn't come. I had to play for the seven singers on the bill. They were all getting on stage, and I was always on stage—like the insurance doctors—Menese was closing. And of course, we didn't have time to sing. He told me to get off and rest a bit while he sang tonás. My fingers were bleeding, and he gave me a piece of ice to rub on them, telling me to hold it while it warmed up with the first cante"Then he introduced me again, asked for applause, and to the seventh soleá, I played him the Melchor songs he liked. Three days later, he called me at home to ask me to go with him on tour in France and Germany..."
Antonio advises the singers: "You have to listen to the masters: Mairena, Thomas, Pastora, Torres, El Caracol…And once you have the basic pillars of the cante, give them personality. Over time, we've improved in rhythm, meter... Before, it was just measured at festivals. Now, there's also more tuning. But there isn't as much creation. For example, fandangos. Who creates a fandango today, and it's only five verses? How many were created before? We have to try to create, not copy.
"Antonio played as he knows how. Accompanying, servile, without stridency, flamenco, humble, simple, with depth, substance, and poise. Dialoguing in the responses to the fandangos, sensitive and precious in the prelude to the milonga, forceful and piercing in the seguiriya, solemn in the soleá, with age in the alegrías, smooth with the malagueña, just right to give way to the tonás. Always with the heart, from infinite enthusiasm, respect, and love for the artists and the flamenco»
Great day for guitar and flamenco, an act of justice
The video set the mood for the audience and warmed up the atmosphere. Antonio emerged from the dressing room to sing a few bars of seguiriya and then launched into the bulería, excelling in the flavors of Morón. Visibly dedicated and filled with emotion, bursts of gratitude welled up in the form of bell-shaped drones and strumming. flamencoand deep falsetas of today and always. The applause was thunderous and eternal, overwhelming. He thanked the organizers and those present for the tribute that he will always carry in his heart and presented his legacy. He played with a smile of complete happiness on his face alongside his grandson Francisco, who sometimes accompanied Antonio's riffs, sometimes plucked or played while droned along with the passages of Aquamarine de Paco Cepero o Between two waters de Paco de Lucía and other niceties, demonstrating the continuity of the strings in the family.
Silence fell when from the stalls, in the warmth of Mairena's memories, the Castilian voice of Manuel Cástulo wove together a journey through tonás, commanding the cante, with an impeccable voice, well-toned and full of endearing nuances. Anabel de Vico began by rocking the malagueña of the trinity in tribute to The Canary, with her own lyrics, fastening it in the abandolaos bravely with the jabegote. Cástulo responded with a romance of his own, dedicated to Menese, shining in the mastery of timing and execution. They fought it out between the two of them in the soleá, Anabel running through variations of Alcalá and Triana, brave in the one of Monkey, and Cástulo for those of Jerez, Cádiz and Alcalá, shining in those of The Twin y PaquirriThe palatial woman cut the verses to the beat of alegrías, and the Mairenero crunched his bones, lamenting the asaúras in the seguiriya. Anabel softened her spirits in the milonga for Andalusia, and with three fandangazos each, they closed the tribute, where hugs, flowers, and gifts were distributed.
Antonio played as he knows how. Accompanying, servile, without stridency, flamenco, humble, simple, with depth, substance, and poise. Dialoguing in the responses to the fandangos, sensitive and precious in the prelude to the milonga, forceful and piercing in the seguiriya, solemn in the soleá, with age in the alegrías, smooth with the malagueña, just right to give way to the tonás. Always with the heart, from infinite enthusiasm, respect, and love for the artists and the flamenco.
The Manuel de Falla Concert Series and the Peña Flamenca Duende did justice by paying tribute to Antonio Carrión on his fiftieth anniversary on stage. concocting a heartfelt recognition on what was a great day for the guitar and the flamenco.
Credits
Antonio Carrión, 50 years on stage Athenaeum of Madrid Concert Cycle Manuel de Falla April 13th 2025 Guitar: Antonio Carrion Cante: Anabel de Vico and Manuel Cástulo Presenter: Pablo San Nicasio
Journalist by vocation of the jondo, inveterate aficionado, singer of writing. On a journey to the emotions of the ritual of flamenco, Kiko Valle –Utrera, 1979– requires the participation of words and images to draw the sway of a moan, the colors of a bulería or the scratch of pain. Critic of flamenco, presenter, speaker, photographer and videographer for more than two decades.
