Flamenco singer and multidisciplinary artist Sara Holgado has emerged as a captivating and innovative voice in the contemporary flamenco scene, weaving together tradition, poetry, and personal narratives. After a string of successful collaborations, including performances with acclaimed dancer Cristina Hall, she is now presenting her deeply personal debut album “Invierno” [Winter], a work that has resonated across the flamenco and musical world for its solemn, heartfelt tone and artistic depth.
Born in Tarragona to Andalusian parents originally from Olvera (Cádiz), Sara inherited a profound connection to flamenco through her family, particularly her father. Flamenco for her transcends language, becoming an “expression of feelings that overflow formal boundaries.” After years of developing her craft, she trained under legendary figures like Mayte Martín, Lole Montoya, and El Lebrijano, honing a unique style that blends raw flamenco emotion with innovative musical expression.
Her artistic trajectory is both rich and global, spanning performances in Morocco, Japan, Algeria, France, and Scandinavia. Notable highlights include her role in the award-winning street performance “La Mujer de la Silla” with Varuma Teatro and recent groundbreaking collaborations like “The Long Journey to Now” in Stockholm, where flamenco merged with traditional Swedish and Belgian sounds. With flamenco dancer Cristina Hall, she continues to push creative boundaries, as seen in recent projects such as “Simbiosis”, “Las Tres Acacias”, and “Dulce Espina”.
“Invierno”, released on March 20, 2024, marks a turning point in her career. Dedicated to her parents, who both passed away in the winter of 2022, the album explores themes of loss, memory, and rebirth. Rich with poetic nuance, “Invierno” contains nine tracks, a mix of original compositions, popular flamenco letras, and reimagined works, including “De paz y de guerra”, a tribute to José Saramago.
The album brings together an impressive lineup of collaborators such as Yannick Corre (co-producer), guitarists Juan Antonio Suárez Canito, Alfredo Lagos, and Tino van der Sman, alongside musicians like Rycardo Moreno, Salvador Gutiérrez, and Swedish nyckelharpa player Josefina Paulson. Each track stands as an emotional vignette, carrying listeners through the artist’s personal reflections and evolving flamenco soundscape.
In her own words, “Invierno is a wave of loneliness and embrace. It is tender, rhythmic, impulsive, but it never postpones me; it heals me winter by winter.”
While “Invierno” continues to captivate audiences, Sara Holgado is also focused on future performances and collaborations. She will join Cristina Hall for upcoming dates, including January 23 at Allegro Ma Non Troppo in Seville and February 25 at the Jerez Off Festival. Meanwhile, she is in the process of securing new venues to present “Invierno” live, with an anticipated performance in Cádiz early next year.
As performances for her “Winter” project begin to take shape in 2025, Sara remains committed to celebrating flamenco as a living, transformative art form—one rooted in heritage, yet constantly evolving through storytelling, innovation, and emotional truth.
For updates on her work and upcoming performances, visit www.saraholgado.com.
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