The acclaimed flamenco singer Gregorio Moya, hailing from Argamasilla de Alba in Ciudad Real, performed a moving recital last night as part of the fourth day of the 40th Spanish Poetry Encounter. This event, organised by the Diputación de Ciudad Real through its Sociocultural and Tourism Promotion Area, was held in collaboration with the Almagro City Council and attracted a large audience to the municipal theatre.
Moya's passionate performance transformed the stage into a space filled with authenticity and profound emotion. He masterfully blended flamenco and poetry, using words as a vehicle to express pain, joy, and memory, resonating deeply with the audience.
Arriving at this event following his triumph as the 2025 winner of the prestigious Lámpara Minera at the International Festival of Cante de las Minas in La Unión, Moya showcased his roots in classical singing, paying homage to the masters who inspire him and to his homeland.
His repertoire featured poems from renowned Spanish writers such as Federico García Lorca, Miguel Hernández, Rafael Alberti, and the Machado brothers, highlighting the significant role poetry has played—and continues to play—in flamenco. A highlight of the evening was the live premiere of an original piece based on verses by Vicente Cano, a poet from Argamasilla de Alba. Moya is preparing to record a new album that will include works by Cano and aims to celebrate the culture of La Mancha, his native region.
Since winning the Lámpara Minera, Moya has remained busy, with seven or eight performances still scheduled for the year, primarily at flamenco venues across Madrid, Andalucía, and Asturias. He expressed particular excitement about his performance in Almagro, noting the beauty of the theatre and its significance to his roots.
Moya believes that the Diputación de Ciudad Real is right to promote poetry, suggesting that it should be a cultural obligation to support the arts. He emphasised the interconnectedness of poetry, painting, and music, advocating for their presence on stage to engage audiences with the arts, which he considers vital for humanity.
He also noted that La Mancha has a vibrant flamenco community, with towns such as his own, Tomelloso, Alcázar, La Solana, and Valdepeñas being particularly passionate about the genre. Having been involved with local flamenco associations since childhood, Moya is one of the most awarded singers in the region. In addition to the Lámpara Minera, he has received accolades in Calasparra, the Sol de Oro in Lorca, and the first prize at the Valdemoro memorial for Juan Habichuela, among others.
His career has taken him to Guinea Equatorial and on tours in the Netherlands with guitarist Payo Humberto, sharing the stage with notable artists such as El Cabrero, Miguel de Tena, and Manuel Gerena. Flamenco has been a significant part of his life from a young age, and he strives to imprint his unique style in every performance while honouring great flamenco figures like Enrique Morente.
The 40th Spanish Poetry Encounter will conclude today, 24 October, with an acoustic concert by Anni B. Sweet, who will provide a contemporary perspective to the closing of this cultural event, wrapping up five days dedicated to poetry and its dialogue with other art forms.
