The flamenco singer Enrique Morente has died
By h.b. - Dec 13, 2010 - 6:10 PM
He suffered complications after surgery at the start of the month in Madrid
One of Spain’s best known flamenco singers, Enrique Morente, has died, after complications following surgery in Madrid on December 4 and 6. The 67 year old entered a coma last Friday, and a statement said then that he had suffered a brain haemorrhage after the original operation which was for cancer of the oesophagus.
A statement from the Clínica de la Luz on Monday morning confirmed that the singer was now brain dead, although machines were keeping his life signs constant. It was then confirmed by his family on Monday afternoon that he had died.
Enrique Morente was the patriarch of a Granada family of singers and artists, considered central to contemporary flamenco in Spain. Father of three daughters including the singer Estrella, he was married to the dancer Aurora Carbonell.
Described by many as ‘the last flamenco poet’, he was nevertheless one of the grand renovators of the art, always pushing the boundaries where he could. His talent for innovation was recognised with a Medalla de Oro al Mérito de las Bellas Artes.
Among his grand achievements was the ‘Omega’ album in 1996, which was re-released last year. Recorded with the rock band Lagartija Nick, and artists such as Vicente Amigo and Tomatito, never did Leonard Cohen sound so flamenco, or did Federico García Lorca’s lyrics be read with such passion. He even sung with ‘The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices’, and worked with Khaled, Ute Lemper and Pat Metheny among others.
His last released album was ‘Pablo de Málaga’ released in 2008.
His current project was on ‘El Barbero de Picasso’ a record in honour of the Málaga painter.
Minister for Culture, Ángeles González-Sinde, was quick to respond to the ‘terrible’ news of his death, saying it was an ‘immense loss’. She said she saw him perform last August at La Unión in Murcia and said he had ‘a mystic fervour’.
The family have issued several statements of thanks for the repeated concern and affection shown to them since his admittance to hospital.
Daughter Estrella, a star in her own right, commented to an anxious press on the morning that her father died
‘I knew my father was important, but not so much’.
Enrique Morente would have been 68 on Christmas Day.
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