Ezequiel Benítez emotionally recited the Exaltation of the Saeta de La Buena Gente in Jerez.
La Peña Flamenca The Good People of Jerez de la Frontera dedicated their XXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta to Juan Romero Pantoja 'El Guapo' with the presentation of Juan Garrido, Ezequiel Benítez as exaltator and the saeteros Carmen Grilo, Dolores Agujetas, Ángel Vargas and Romerito de Jerez.
La Church of San Mateo welcomed the sung prayer of four illustrious Jerez residents, four children of God who raised their complaints to heaven in the XXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta of the Peña Flamenca The Good People from Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz). It was dedicated to Juan Romero Pantoja 'The Handsome', the great saetero who moved Undibé and the Virgin for many years, praying with his voice in the corners of Jerez. Now from his glory, he will sing softly in your ear, echoing in the memories of the people of Jerez who heard his heartfelt prayers.
The singer Ezekiel Benitez He was the one in charge of exalting the saeta. He did it from the heart. And what comes from the heart reaches the heart, intoxicating with his evocative words on a journey through his memory.
Juan Antonio Sánchez Galindo gave the floor to Juan Garrido, which he introduced with the solemnity required for the event. The companion spoke briefly about the saeteros (saeteros) who would fill the evening with flamenco supplications: Carmen Grilo, Dolores Agujetas, Ángel Vargas y Romerito from Jerez, brother of the honoree who is almost 93 years old. All of them were chosen by Ezequiel for covering a range of textures and colors of the cante to draw different ways of imploring the divine.
La 'Caridad' Bugle and Drum Band thundered in the 15th century Gothic temple alternating between words and saetas, marking the exaltation with three sublime marches. He opened with Bulería in San Román, José Pavón, seduced with The soul of Triana, Francisco Ortiz, and stoked a Scourge of faith, Nicolás King and Carlos Belmonte, then fasten the closure with the Marcha Real.
"The singer Ezequiel Benítez was in charge of exalting the saeta. He did it from the heart. And what comes from the heart reaches the heart, intoxicating with his evocative words on a journey through his memory."
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1. Dolores AgujetasXXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Dolores AgujetasXXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
2. Carmen Grilo. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Carmen Grilo. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
3. Romerito de Jerez. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Romerito de Jerez. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
4. Ángel Vargas. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Angel Vargas. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
5. Ezequiel Benítez. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Ezequiel Benítez. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
6. Dolores AgujetasXXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Dolores AgujetasXXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
7. Dolores AgujetasXXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Dolores AgujetasXXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
8. Dolores AgujetasXXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Dolores AgujetasXXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
9. Dolores AgujetasXXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Dolores AgujetasXXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
10 Dolores AgujetasXXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Dolores AgujetasXXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
11 Dolores AgujetasXXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Dolores AgujetasXXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
12. Ezequiel Benítez. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Ezequiel Benítez. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
13. Ezequiel Benítez. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Ezequiel Benítez. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
14. Ezequiel Benítez. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Ezequiel Benítez. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
15. Ezequiel Benítez. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Ezequiel Benítez. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
16. Ezequiel Benítez. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Ezequiel Benítez. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
17. Ezequiel Benítez. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Ezequiel Benítez. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
18. Ezequiel Benítez. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Ezequiel Benítez. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
19. Ezequiel Benítez. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Ezequiel Benítez. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
20. Ezequiel Benítez. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Ezequiel Benítez. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
21. Romerito de Jerez. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Romerito de Jerez. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
22. Romerito de Jerez. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Romerito de Jerez. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
23. Romerito de Jerez. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Romerito de Jerez. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
24. Romerito de Jerez. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Romerito de Jerez. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
25. Romerito de Jerez. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Romerito de Jerez. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
26. Romerito de Jerez. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Romerito de Jerez. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
27. Romerito de Jerez. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Romerito de Jerez. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
28. Romerito de Jerez. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Romerito de Jerez. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
29. Romerito de Jerez. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Romerito de Jerez. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
30. Romerito de Jerez. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Romerito de Jerez. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
31. Romerito de Jerez. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Romerito de Jerez. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
32. Carmen Grilo. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Carmen Grilo. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
33. Carmen Grilo. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Carmen Grilo. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
34. Carmen Grilo. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Carmen Grilo. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
35. Carmen Grilo. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Carmen Grilo. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
36. Carmen Grilo. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Carmen Grilo. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
37. Carmen Grilo. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Carmen Grilo. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
38. Ángel Vargas. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Angel Vargas. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
39. Ángel Vargas. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Angel Vargas. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
40. Ángel Vargas. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Angel Vargas. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
41. XXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
XXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
42. XXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
XXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
43. Juan Garrido. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
XXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
44. XXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
XXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
45. XXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
XXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
46. XXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
XXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
47. Francisco Zurita. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Francisco Zurita. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
48. Francisco Zurita. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Francisco Zurita. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
49. Javier Mejías. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Javier Mejías. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
50. Javier Mejías. XNUMXth Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
Javier Mejías. 36th Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
51. XXXVI Exaltation of the Saeta - Peña Flamenca Good People. Church of San Mateo, Jerez. April 7, 2025. Photo: Kiko Valle
The audience packed the church on a Monday. We heeded Garrido's advice, inviting us to "let ourselves be carried away by the magic of someone who speaks from the heart and cannot deceive." Ezequiel recited with emotion, remembering the time he held his father's hand. Alfredo Benitez Admiring the brotherhoods, he listened to the voices of the saeteros on every corner, whose names he mentioned in his speech. He praised the figure of El Guapo, a man from Santiago with a clear voice who made the silence by raising his clamor amidst the din. And he described the Jerez saeta as "an arrow, short and direct" which although it is interpreted in different ways – by seguiriya, martinete, carceleras… – it stops in Jerez in a dramatic and visceral way, especially in the gypsy gañotes making this blessed land "Birthplace and capital of the flamenco saeta"He couldn't contain himself, and he sang it too, as he does in private every day of Holy Week. But his best saeta is for his love, who is there, mesmerized by Ezequiel's exaltation.
The pedestal of prayers was stepped on by the flamencos of the poster. Carmen Grilo curled her Adam's apple, being the youngest of the four, and said two. She stabbed him two times. Dolores Agujetas without breaking but rummaging in her guts for the fatigue that pushed her to pray to his gypsy God two saetones that cracked the ribs and raised the skin with the racial echo of black sounds who carries the blood of his surname. The Chief Saetero Ángel Vargas sounded bell-shaped, tremendous. He received ovations. He cut the thirds, giving his soul through his mouth. Romerito de Jerez dusted off a saeta from his left side after fifty years without praying in song, surprising the audience by squeezing out of his prodigious throat a prayer of repelucos with jinque that stirred the Christians.
The protocol part, the thanks, the words of the organizers, the presentation of gifts, the appointment of the authorities and personalities present, is not something I will spare you, but in order not to be too long-winded or bore you, I invite you to watch it in the video that you will soon have in full in ExpoflamencoAnd I close with the poem with which Ezequiel closed his emotional and memorable exaltation:
If that monk who outlined as a claim and desire some passionate sounds so that his people could understand who was the son of God… And if thinking he said that Jerez would have the flower of a new prayer crying to ease her pain… If I sing to you and don't see you, it's because I'm not looking inside, But today yes, today I feel you with me, with my people, with my town in the Church of San Mateo
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.
