Biografhy

    BIO

Antonia Contreras is an internationally acclaimed artist, defined by an expressive style, always sensitive to the more authentic fragments which constitute the traditional culture of Flamenco. Her national recognition in the field has allowed her to perform beyond the Spanish borders, obtaining great success with her shows in different countries all over the world, such as Japan, USA, UK, France, Bulgaria, Colombia, Brazil or Portugal.

Her art is always open to new forms and it is extensively backed up by her many, diverse awards. Her dynamism in the field of Flamenco must be emphasized, specifically in her singing in which she specialises in cante por soleá, siguiriyas, tangos, rondeña, caña or cartagenera.

Her artistic personality is very adaptable and versatile, being able to interpret the more diverse moods and tonalities, with the aim of renewing the voice in Flamenco. Her style is defined by adapting her lyrics to new authors and integrating Andalusia poetry into her shows.


    SHOWS

“El Amor Brujo”, 2006-2011
(France, Spain, Japan, Portugal, Brazil, Bulgaria)

- Recording with the Poitou-Charentes Orchestra, directed by Jean-François Heisser, based on the classic piece from Manuel de Falla, in its 1915 version.

- INTERNATIONAL SHOWS: FolleJournée in Nantes (France, February 2007), Bilbao (Spain, March 2007) and Tokyo (Japan, May 2007). In Portugal, with the Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra, she performed in Lisbon and Estoril (April, 2008). In Brazil, with the Petrobás Symphonic Orchestra (August, 2009).In Sofía (Bulgaria), she performed accompanied by the Bulgarian New Symphonic Orchestra, directed by Alexey Izmirlev in 2010.

- Concerts in FRANCE with the Poitou-Charentes Orchestra. She toured around the following cities: La Rochelle, La Roche-sur-Yon, Gradignan, Angouleme and Rochefort in 2007. In 2008,she performed at La Tranche sur Mer and L’Epau and in 2009, in Nimes. And finally, she performed in 2010 at the Pianoscope (Beauvais) Festival and the 14th Edition of “Labeame en Musiques”. Also in France, a concert with Picardie Orchestra and Ballet at the Imperial Theatre in Compiegne, 2010.

- NATIONAL SHOWS: Cervantes Municipal Theatre in Álora, Málaga (2005). And in 2008 she performed with the Malaga Provincial Symphonic Orchestra at Plaza de Toros in Ronda and Real Colegiata in Antequera.


“Biznagas”, 2006-2008
(USA, Spain, United Kingdom)

- Production created for the Andalusia Agency for the Development of Flamenco, directed by José Luis Ortiz Nuevo

- INTERNATIONAL TOUR with shows in New York and London in February 2007.

- NATIONAL TOUR including the regions of Cataluña(inSabadell, Santa Coloma de Gramanet, Mataró and Blanes), Zaragoza and Málaga (Sala Canovas in Málaga, Teatro Cervantes de Álora and Palacio de Congresos in Estepona).

- As part of the 36th International Conference of Flamenco Art, she sang at the Antequera bullring in the province of Málaga, 2008. “Málaga en Flamenco”, 2005 (Spain)

- Including the famous national theaters: Cervantes (Málaga), Maestranza (Sevilla), Villamarta (Jerez de la Frontera), Gran Teatro (Córdoba), Auditorio Manuel de Falla, (Granada).

- In this show also participated Carmen Linares, El Pele, Marina Heredia, among others well-known national artists.


    AWARDS

• First Place. II Concurso Regional de Cante Flamenco “Villa de Ardales” (Ardales, 2005)

• First Place. Saetas competition organized by “Peña el Palustre” (Málaga, 2001 y 2003) and award recognized by the University of Málaga at the 30th National Competition of Saetas at “PeñaTrinitaria” (Málaga, 2005)

• First Place. 29th and 30th National Flamenco Singing Competition, in the specialty of Serranas (Prado del Rey, 2003 and 2004).

• First Place. 16th Flamenco Art Show “Ciudad de Ubrique” (Ubrique, 2004).

• First Place. Flamenco Singing Competition “Frasquito el Rubio” (Alcalá del Valle, 2003).

• Recognition Award. Best Flamenco Singer at the 15th and 16th Editions of the “Juan Casillas” Flamenco Singing Competition (Antequera, 2003 and 2004).

• Recognition Award. Mejor Malagueña from La Trini at the 12th Edition of the “Juan Casillas” Flamenco Singing Competition (Antequera, 2000).

• First Place. 2nd Competition “Peña Juan Casillas”, in the specialty of Malagueñas (Cuevas de San Marcos, 2003).

• First Place. Competition Cantes de Ida y Vuelta, in the specialty of Colombianas (Marchena 2000).

• First Place.25th National Flamenco Singing Competition, in the specialty of Peteneras (Paterna de la Rivera, 1999).


    FESTIVALS & OTHERS

• Creation of her own show called “Sin Fronteras” and presented at Teatro Cervantes in Álora in 2010.

• Flamenco version of “Suite Iberia”, a classic from the composer Albéniz, interpreted at the guitar by Chaparro de Málaga and at the piano by Joan François Heisser. It had several shows worthy of mention: The International Piano Festival in Roque de Antheron, Théâtre de la Ville in París, the Music Festival of Arlés and another two shows at the French cities of Saint Nizier and Laon (France, 2008-2009)

• Show at the church of Cartagena de Indias in Colombia interpreting “Misa Flamenca” March, 2008.

• From 2005 to 2008, she sang at various festivals, flamenco events and other minor shows, including: Almeria, Málaga, Cadiz, Córdoba, Granada, Seville, Huelva and Ciudad Real. In 2009 she also performed in the province of Barcelona (L’Hospitalet, Cornellá, Manlleu and Cerdanyola). In addition to other flamenco events organized in the cities of Baracaldo, Cornellá and Brussels during 2005.

• Show with the chorus “Carmina” (Barcelona) at the Fontevraud Abby, 2007.

• Invited to participate at the conference“Women in Flamenco Singing” in Cáceres, 2006, and the “Flamenco Women’s Week” (Ávila, 2007)

• CD Recording released to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the birth of the poet Salvador Rueda. She interprets: granaína, petenera and abandolaos. Málaga, 2007.

• With the flamenco piece “Cruce de Caminos”, she performed in Seville, Córdoba and Almería (2007)

• She participated in various flamenco festivals, such as “Noches Mágicas en la Malagueta” and the “1st Festival de Exaltación del Cante por Malagueña”, where other famous artists like Carmen Linares, Miguel Poveda and Antonio de Canillas also participated. (Málaga, 2006)

• Main protagonist of prestigious flamenco festivals in the province of Málaga, such as “Torre del Cante”, in Alhaurín de la Torre, “Castillo del Cante” in Ojén or “Noche Flamenca de Santa María” in Antequera. Málaga, 2005.


    Youtube

Antonia Contreras con la Orquesta Poitou-Charentes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hx3eNKzScs



Antonia Contreras con la Orquesta de Guillermo Carretero, (copla española)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4txmOwQhPg



Antonia Contreras y la guitarrista Laura Gonzalez

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-lMeQdbBXA



Antonia Contreras y Chaparro de Malaga

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=101z9Oy2fMQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBQWFTZNE7Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZdxJATv48o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBQWFTZNE7Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oeegkl3o3Lg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRK4zZQOuDM

  

Antonia Contreras.