Women en Mia Norwegian woman’s journey in flamenco

Women en Mia Norwegian woman’s journey in flamenco

… and a tribute to some of the women who inspired her on her way

Artistic direction, music and lyrics,vocals and flamenco guitar:

String arrangements:String arrangements and violin:

Cello and dance:Percussion:

Flamenco singing:Norwegian folk singing:

Flamenco dancing:Lighting design:

Sound:Stage manager:

Bettina FlaterHéctor GonzalezVictor GuadianaMarina BarbaIván MellénLoreto De DiegoUnni BoksaspKaren LugoSüh-guein RomeroBea Anieves Lucia Mancheño

Duration: 75 min

Bettina FlaterHéctor GonzalezVictor GuadianaMarina BarbaIván MellénLoreto De DiegoUnni BoksaspKaren LugoSüh-guein RomeroBea Anieves Lucia Mancheño

Women en Mi (promo video)CD release concert at the Teatro Pradillo

Madrid, June 3 2012

“Witches” “Recovering”

“Malabares”“Rondane”

“Women en Mi”, based on original music by the Nor-wegian singer and flamenco guitarist Bettina Flater, is a personal and intimate show that also has its fiery mo-ments. Bettina has worked for many years as a flamen-co guitarist at a high Span-ish level. She has played in the most prestigious thea-tres and festivals in Spain, with the elite of the artists in the genre. Yet she composes

songs in English, and draws inspiration from Norwe-gian folk music. These three worlds that live in Bettina meld together in her music in a beautiful and surpris-ingly natural way. North and south, cold and warmth, sen-sitivity and passion. Bettina’s music is, like she is herself, both Nordic and “flamenca” at the same time. Here is harmony in contrast.

While Bettina’s lyrics depict her own feminine inner world, each song is also dedicated to a woman who has been impor-tant in her life. In this way we meet the English aviator and

writer Beryl Markham who, like Bettina, grew up in Ken-ya, in addition to Clara Schu-mann, Mary Wollstonecraft and other women: rebels, ar-tists, thinkers, healers…

“The flamenco guitar is the strong backbone throughout the cd, but Bettina also has an expressive voice that ranges from the sensual to the primordial. The cd shows an exceptional artistic breadth and inspiration. It’s also very rarely that I meet musicians who so easily and effortlessly mix flamenco with other musical styles.”

Rolf Nilsén, “Gitarr & Luta”

“Bettina brings a fresh approach to an already vibrant style of music with extraordinary guitar playing and a beautiful smile. She has played twice now at Chagstock and I would have her back again and again.”

Simon Ford, Chagstock Festival programmer

Bettina began her musical career in 1996. Since then, she has travelled the world over with her guitar on her back. She has played the most prestigious flamenco festivals, such as the Biennial of Sevilla, Festival de Jerez, and Suma Flamenca of Madrid. She has collaborated with flamenco artists such as Manolo Sanlucar and Marco Flores.

In 2009 she found back to her roots as a songwriter, and began to explore and let herself be inspired by the folk music of her native Norway. She formed a band in Madrid, with which

BETTINA FLATER Artistic direction, composition, arrangements, flamenco guitar and vocals.

she has played at all kinds of venues, including the Festival Flamenco pa Tós in Madrid and the opening of the St. Olaf Chapel in Covarrubias organized by the Norwegian Embassy in Madrid.

In 2012 the album “Women en Mi” was released, which was launched at the emblematic flamenco venue Casa Patas, and the Teatro Pradillo in Madrid.

“Bettina Flater has proved that a Norwegian womancan triumph in the world of flamenco”

Susanna Urra, El País

KAREN LUGOflamenco dance

Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Karen began already as a 4-year-old with classical ballet and Spanish dance. Later she started flamenco, and moved to Madrid to pursue a carreer as flamenco dancer. In Spain, she has performed as a soloist in the series “Los Novíssimos” at the Festival de Jerez and has also danced in the film “Flamenco Flamenco” by Carlos Saura. She was the principal dancer in the show “El Duende y el Reloj” directed by Javier Latorre. She directed the shows “Flamencura” (Palestine, 2011) and “Territorio DeMente” (USA 2012) in cooperation with Fundación Casa Patas.

VICTOR GUADIANAarrangements, violin

Victor Guadiana has a broad musical base, from classical music through rock, funk, blues to jazz and flamenco. He plays with groups like El Sombrero del Abuelo, Psicorama, Nazan Grein, Canteca de Macao, Miguel Tena, Flamenco Vivo and Orquesta Joven Europea. As a producer, he has worked in the studios “Grabaciones y Logic”, “Cine Arte” and “Univak Records”, and has produced artists such as Finados, Javi Montes, Alana Sinkey, Skeptomai, Bettina Flater, etc.r de Música de Madrid.En 2007 ganó el concurso-oposición al Conservatorio de Música y desde entonces compagina la docencia con su actividad musical como violonchelista de la

MARINA BARBAcello, dance

Marina Barba has a diploma in Cello and Chamber Music from the “Real Conservatorio Superior de Música de Madrid.” In 2007 she won the competition at the “Conservatorio de Música”. Since then she combines teaching with her activities as a performer in the theater company L’om Imprebís, among others, and as a composer for theater plays “El Conde de Sex” and “Desdemona”.

IVÁN MELLÉNpercussion

Iván has studied cajón with Ramón Porrina, Diego Álvarez “El Negro”, Vicente Suero “Morito” Lucky Losada and Bandolero. He has also studied other instruments and genres with among others Eliseo Parra (various Spanish folk styles), Fernando Marconi (Brazilian percussion) and Miguel Gonzalo (drums and djembe). He has worked with many different musicians in many genres, including Shakira, Andreas Prittwitz, Fernando de la Rua, Agustín Cabonell “Bola” and Jorge Pardo.

UNNI BOKSASPNorwegian folk singing

Unni Boksasp is a traditional folk singer from Nordmøre, at the North-west coast of Norway. She has her scholastic training from The Royal College of Music in Stockholm and the Faculty of Art and Folk Culture at the Telemark University College. Besides that she has studied with several of the most influential performers of the tradition. She won the elite Category A in traditional singing in the National Contest for Traditional Music in 2010 and 2011. She now lives in Telemark in the southern part of Norway and works as a full-time vocal musician.

LORETO DE DIEGOflamenco singing

Loreto was born in Burgos and lives now in Madrid, where she combines competitions (she was a finalist in the prestigious competition Silla de Oro) with working at the flamenco tablaos in the capital (Casa Patas, Las Carboneras, Las Tablas). She works in various flamenco companies (including “Ballet de Rafael Aguilar”) with which she has toured in countries such as Germany, Hungary, China, Japan, etc. She also sings in different bands that play flamenco fusion, and has performed with them in places such as Galileo Galilei, Cardamomo and Contra Club in Madrid.

Contact:wem@bettinaflater.comwww.bettinaflater.com

copyright 2012graphic design: Charles Olsen

picture of Bettina (cover): Anya Bartels-Suermondtpicture of Antonia Jiménez: Luca Fiaccavento

picture of Naike Ponce: JPpicture of Bettina (page 7): Levent Ultranur

paintings and drawings: Raquel Yunta