Last night, the “Flamenco Club Cartagena”, the official venue of the International Cante de las Minas Festival in the city, was inaugurated during an exclusive event attended by sixty business leaders. This cultural space is set to host prestigious, exclusive performances.

The event was opened by Yiyo Solana, president of SO-LA-NA Entertainment, who stated: “This is a private club where we will bring the world’s top flamenco artists to Cartagena. The ‘tablao’ we have here will feature the best performers of this art, who are currently appearing in venues like the Teatro Real in Madrid, the Liceu in Barcelona, the United States, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, China, or Australia, to name a few”.

“Last year, we organized 500 performances outside of Spain, something no other production company does. All these shows are produced by SO-LA-NA Entertainment, and we will bring them here because this international company is based in Cartagena.”

Next, Lucho Ferruzzo took the floor, emphasizing that “Yiyo Solana has elevated flamenco to an unprecedented level, even organizing performances in Spain’s four most renowned museums: The Prado, Reina Sofía, Thyssen-Bornemisza, and the Royal Collections Gallery, where works by the world’s most iconic artists are displayed.”

Following him, Joaquín Zapata, president of the Cante de las Minas Foundation, highlighted: “The Flamenco Club Cartagena, inaugurated today, is now the third official venue of the International Festival, alongside the Cathedral of Cante in La Unión and El Corral de la Morería in Madrid.”

Afterwards, Patricia Donn, a 27-year-old flamenco dancer, choreographer, director, and seasoned international tour performer, took the stage. Her performance featured the guitarist Juan Antonio Mateos and the singer Rocío Martínez.

Donn showcased tientos and tarantos, a caña, and alegrías dances. Martínez performed a granaína and media granaína, concluding with a festive bulerías finale.

The event, which featured a dinner showcasing SO-LA-NA brand products, was attended by notable entrepreneurs, including José María Fernández Uñaz, Francisco Fuentes, Alberto de la Corte, José Luis Reverte, Tomás Martínez Pagán, Andrés Baraza, José Ángel Díaz, and Carlos Andreu, among others.

Following the performance, a meet & greet was held, allowing attendees to exchange ideas, create synergies, and take photos at the photocall with the performing artists.

The initiative has partners such as Grupo Ership, Daniel Gómez, SFRTRUCKS Logística Integral, Ayala Abogados, Bolea Saez Seguros y Reaseguros, Acciona, Agencia Marítima Blázquez, Pinturas Briz, Carlos Andreu Auditores-Abogados, PROIMED Suministros Industriales, MTP MANTEPUERTO S.L., and IBERMED. While membership is exclusive, access can be requested through SO-LA-NA Entertainment or its listed partners.

Separately, the International Cante de las Minas Festival paid tribute to Pablo Díaz Moreno, a master of improvisational poetry known as trovo, with the ‘Trovero Marín’ award during the final event of the 63rd edition’s Cultural Agenda. Díaz Moreno, who learned the art as a youth, has dedicated himself to training the next generation of trovo poets, earning him recognition as “one of the last great trovo masters in the Murcia region,” as described by Joaquín Zapata, mayor of La Unión and president of the Cante de las Minas Foundation.

Visibly moved, Díaz Moreno dedicated the award to his grandchildren, expressing his gratitude in verse:
“It is the greatest joy / that a trovo poet has dreamed of / to come here to La Unión / to sing at the Market / and at the Casa del Piñón.”

Although retired from the stage, Díaz Moreno remains active in nurturing talent. One of his students, Iván ‘El de la Escucha,’ won this year’s VI Pascual García Mateos Trovo Contest and co-authored The Trovo Manual in 2010 with Díaz Moreno. This book aims to simplify and preserve the art’s foundational techniques.

“We are committed to ensuring trovo receives the recognition it deserves, as it is an integral part of La Unión’s cultural heritage and the roots of mining songs,” added Zapata, reiterating his support for this art form and its continuity within the festival.