It often happens. When things appear to be going wrong, and it appears we can do nothing about it, a resignation comes. Then we start to make alternate plans and nothing seems to be good enough because we had relied on the initial plans working. So when the ‘four rows from the front cancellation’ came through it was a welcome shock and we were now even more excited by our night out with Vicente Amigo.

This was the Gran Teatro Falla, the opera house of Cadiz with its beautifully crafted and painted ceiling, a spectacle that would keep even the most impatient audience entertained. About 15 minutes post starting time, Vicente strolled calmly on to the stage, sat and immediately began strumming his classical guitar. Two more followed, as the deafening audience applause also followed, pre-empted by some loud female voices yelling something!

As in Flamenco there were two hand clapping men providing a constant beat, their hands rubbing together on the second clap. One clapper then broke out in a loud shrill voice that seemed to astound even the great award winning Vicente, who upped the tempo accordingly. The second and third guitars added humble support.

Then it was Vicente again, his right hand moving imperceptibly fast as he made agreeable eye contact with the drummer, a lively player looking for that elusive duende moment. All this time the non-singing hand clapper appeared to be just filling the extra seat until a sudden break in the music. He stood up amid the silence and slowly but oh so very purposeful. 

Standing out front on this huge stage grasping the two loose sides of his suit coat, like a woman would grasp the frills of her dress, his legs started to shake. Then he started to stamp and began that electrifying heel toe movement, clasping his coat even tighter and releasing as though he needed more air. A couple of pirouettes a pause as though he was finished, but his mind seemed to be full of thought and emotion, as he moved into yet another frenzy.

Once again Vicente gave a satisfied smile as he too admired the performance, at times playing, at other times silent as it had to be. Long after I expected him to finish or the dancing to finish him, he stopped. He sat down exhausted,o wiping sweat from his eyes in between his very gentle supportive hand clapping of the person we’d come here to watch – Vicente Amigo.

His brilliant playing began again as his eyes once again brought in the drummer and then looked one last time to the singer who would have upstaged lesser performers.

More shouts from the lively audience and after the third standing ovation it was over. Was there a duende moment? I’m not sure, only they would know that, but three grand masters of their specialised fields came together tonight to give all in telling their story in the Gran Teatro Falla of Cadiz.