Peña La Pepa Presents
María Bermúdez y Sonidos Gitanos
4th Annual Chateau Flamenco Festival
Louisiana Premiere | Saturday, November 15, 2025 | Jefferson Performing Arts Center
The 4th Annual Chateau Flamenco Festival opens with the Louisiana premiere of Sonidos Gitanos (Gypsy Sounds), a production curated by flamenco icon María Bermúdez, who returns to the festival after a standout appearance in 2023.
This is gitano de verdad—flamenco at its purest: uncompromised, authentic, and overflowing with rhythm and spirit. A production with a powerhouse ensemble of seven international stars who’ll bring the heartbeat of Gypsy flamenco from Jerez de a Frontera to New Orleans.
Sonidos Gitanos has sold out audiences worldwide, including several performances at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
The show starts at 8PM, doors open at 7PM.
A Star-Studded Lineup: The Artists
A gathering of seven internationally acclaimed artists (singers, musicians and dancers) come from the cradle of flamenco, Jerez de la Frontera, to deliver an unforgettable performance you won’t want to miss.
- María Bermúdez (Artistic Director & Dancer)
- Jesús Méndez (Guest artist, Singer)
- Manuel Valencia (Guitarist)
- Fernando Jiménez (Dancer)
- Ana de los Reyes (Singer)
- Miguel Rosendo (Singer)
- Bernardo Parrilla (Violinist)
María Bermúdez: Flamenco Ambassador
María Bermúdez is one of the world’s most celebrated and respected flamenco artists in the world. She’s also a passionate advocate for flamenco education and outreach. She was officially named the Flamenco Ambassador in 2022 by the city of Jerez de la Frontera for her outstanding contributions to the art form.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Bermúdez’s flamenco journey inspired the award winning documentary “Streets of Flamenco” (YouTube). Her quest began in the 90s when the untimely death of her brother, Alfonso, who was a flamenco dancer, pushed her to follow her own dream of dancing flamenco. She was drawn to the dance’s passionate energy and intricate rhythms, and she quickly immersed herself in its rich culture and traditions.
Bermúdez has performed on some of the most prestigious stages in the world, including the Hollywood Bowl and The John Anson Ford Amphitheater in Los Angeles, The Joyce Theatre and Lincoln Center Outdoors in New York, Festival de Beaucaire in France, the Palacio Das Artes, Brazil, and countless festivals.
Her guest appearances include the Australian Guitar Festival dedicated to Paco de Lucía and with the director of the Orquesta Santa Cecilia, Sonia de León, The Teatro Villamarta in Spain, the legendary “52ª Fiesta de la Bulería” in Jerez, and most recently, The Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles as artistic director and performer of the unprecedented “Fiesta de la Buleria.”
Bermúdez is a highly respected teacher and choreographer, and she has dedicated her life to sharing her love of flamenco with others.
Bermúdez’s performances are electrifying and deeply moving. She is a master of her craft, and she brings a unique blend of passion, artistry, and technical brilliance to every stage she graces.
She dazzled New Orleanians at our 2nd Annual Chateau Flamenco Festival in 2023. This year is yet another chance for us to experience the beauty and power of flamenco music and dance.
Jesús Mendéz: Voice of Tradition, Power, and Duende
Born in Jerez de la Frontera into the legendary Méndez family, Jesús Méndez carries the powerful legacy of his great-aunt, the iconic La Paquera de Jerez—one of flamenco’s most unforgettable voices. With deep roots in the rich tradition of Jerez flamenco, Méndez brings raw power, emotional depth, and a voice steeped in history to every performance.
He made his debut at just seventeen, and since then, has shared the stage with flamenco greats like Moraito Chico, Rocío Molina, Gerardo Núñez, and Carmen Cortés. Known for his mastery of bulería and soleá, Méndez’s artistry has taken him around the globe—from New York to Beijing, Paris to Buenos Aires—offering audiences a direct line to the heart of traditional flamenco.
His first album, Jerez Sin Fronteras (2008) (Apple Music, Spotify), featured collaborations with top-tier musicians including Diego del Morao and Santiago Lara, and earned the National Critics’ Award for Best New Album. His follow-up, Añoranza (Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify), released at the Flamenco Biennial of Seville, further cemented his status as a leading voice of his generation.
Whether performing solo or alongside renowned dancers and musicians, Jesús Méndez brings an unmistakable presence (YouTube)—one that connects the purity of old-school flamenco with the energy of a new era. At the Chateau Flamenco Festival, audiences can expect a performance that is both deeply rooted and fiercely alive, echoing the soul of Jerez in every note.
Manuel Valencia: Strings of Legacy and Innovation
Born in Jerez de la Frontera and raised in the La Asunción neighborhood, Manuel Valencia grew up with flamenco in his veins and a guitar always within reach. A nephew of the legendary Fernando Terremoto and grandnephew of Terremoto de Jerez, Valencia carries a powerful artistic lineage rooted in eight Gitano family names—Valencia, Medrano, Carrasco, Pantoja, Guerrero, Jiménez, Vargas, and Carpio.
Taught by his uncle and shaped by the sounds of Jerez, Valencia quickly rose through the ranks of flamenco guitarists. He began performing professionally in his teens, and by his early 20s, was touring Europe with Gerardo Núñez. His solo debut at the Festival de Jerez followed soon after, earning him critical acclaim.
Valencia’s style honors the depth and soul of traditional Jerez guitar while pushing it into fresh territory. He has accompanied flamenco giants such as La Macanita, Jesús Méndez, Manuel Agujetas, Vicente Soto “Sordera,” and Rocío Molina, and has performed on stages from Paris to Madrid to New York.
His 2016 debut album, Entre mis manos (Amazon Music, Spotify, Apple Music), showcased his personal voice as a composer. In 2023, he premiered Las Tres Orillas (YouTube, Facebook), an audiovisual trilogy that explores flamenco’s intersections across cultures. His playing has earned him numerous honors, including the Giraldillo Revelación from the Bienal de Flamenco de Sevilla and the Venencia Flamenca al Toque.
At the Chateau Flamenco Festival, Manuel Valencia brings both tradition and innovation—an artist shaped by heritage, driven by curiosity, and guided by the unmistakable gitano roots of his guitar.
Fernando Jiménez: The Pulse of Jerez on Stage
Born in the heart of Santiago, one of Jerez de la Frontera’s most iconic flamenco neighborhoods, Fernando Jiménez (Vimeo) carries flamenco in his blood. A direct descendant of the legendary cantaora Tía Anica “La Piriñaca” and related to José Vargas “El Mono,” his roots run deep in the tradition of gypsy flamenco.
Fernando first stepped on stage at the age of six and was already performing professionally by twelve. By seventeen, he was touring the Americas, and he has since brought his powerful, grounded style to audiences across Europe, Japan, and beyond. Known for his masculine elegance, rhythmic finesse, and commanding stage presence, Fernando dances from a place of deep cultural inheritance. His performances reflect the gatherings and celebrations of Jerez—weddings, festivals, and spontaneous bursts of duende (YouTube).
He has shared the stage with flamenco greats like La Macanita, Pansequito, Aurora Vargas, Rancapino Chico, and Jesús Méndez, and his solo work has been featured in festivals across Spain and internationally. His acclaimed shows, Herencia Bailaora, Transiciones, Alfa & Compás (YouTube), and Camino, reveal both his reverence for tradition and his evolving artistic dance.
Fernando Jiménez is more than a dancer—he is a living expression of Jerez itself. At the Chateau Flamenco Festival, he brings the fire, rhythm, and soul of his homeland to New Orleans.
Ana de los Reyes: Flamenco Royalty
Born into a family of flamenco artists, Ana de Los Reyes is from the birthplace of flamenco, Jerez de la Frontera, Andalusia and is the sister of three esteemed flamenco singers, Pelé De Los Reyes, Chiqui de Jerez, and Coral de Los Reyes.
After years of honing her craft, she joined the dance company of Joaquín Cortés, Arte y Solera in Japan and then subsequently joined Sonidos Gitanos, the dance company of María Bermúdez, captivating audiences around the world.
Ana is a recording artist, participating in several albums including Nanas Flamencas, Duende y Compás (Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music), Soul y Pasión Gitana.
She is a master of traditional flamenco dance forms, but is known for her innovative contemporary choreography. Her performances are deeply moving and she has shared stages with artists such as Sara Baras, Javier Barón, Rafael Campayo, Domingo Ortega, Adrián Galiana, Aida Gómez, José Gálvez, Antonio Malena, María del Mar Moreno, and many others.
In 2013, Ana joined the Japanese company Hiro Sako where they performed at the Festival de Jerez (Vimeo). In 2014, they performed at the Palacio Villavicencio where she was a featured soloist. And in 2016, they performed the show Sentimento y Pureza at the Alcazar of Jerez.
Since then, she’s performed with María Bermúdez at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, at the 52nd Fiesta de la Buleria in Jerez, and Navidad de Coral (YouTube) at the Teatro Villamarta de Jerez.
Returning after performing at our 2nd Annual Chateau Flamenco Festival, Ana de los Reyes promises to deliver another powerful performance that’s both a tribute to her jerezeno roots and a testament to her innovative spirit.
Miguel Rosendo: A Voice Shaped by Tradition and the World
Born into the rich flamenco tradition of Cádiz, Miguel Rosendo (YouTube) began his career in the heart of the art form—singing in peñas like La Perla, Juanito Villar, and Enrique El Mellizo. It was in these intimate, community-rooted venues that he developed his voice: soulful, commanding, and steeped in the depth of cante jondo.
Rosendo’s path quickly expanded beyond Spain. After performing at Tablao Flamenco Cordobés, he spent four years in Japan, where he worked with renowned dancer Yoko Komatsubara and brought the spirit of flamenco to new audiences across Asia. His time abroad added depth and nuance to his style, while reinforcing his commitment to the roots of the art.
Upon returning to Spain, Rosendo became a sought-after singer for some of flamenco’s most celebrated dancers, including Cristina Hoyos, Javier Barón, Antonio El Pipa, Israel Galván, Andrés Peña, and Edu Guerrero. His voice has traveled the world—heard on stages from France to Chile, from Tel Aviv to New York.
Today, Miguel Rosendo is a fixture at the iconic tablao Gallo Ronco in Málaga, where his performances continue to captivate locals and visitors alike. With each note, he honors the legacy of the peñas that shaped him while continuing to expand flamenco’s reach across the globe.
At the Chateau Flamenco Festival, Rosendo brings his world-traveled voice and unmistakable duende to New Orleans for a night of soul-stirring song.
Bernardo Parrilla: The Soul of Flamenco, Bow in Hand
Hailing from Jerez de la Frontera, Bernardo Parrilla (YouTube) is the epitome flamenco violin. He brings a rare blend of precision, passion, and gypsy soul to every note he plays. Self-taught and deeply rooted in flamenco tradition, Parrilla began studying violin at age 17 at the Santa Cecilia Academy in Madrid, quickly forging a style that has become his own.
His unmistakable sound can be heard across the flamenco world—from major films like Gitano and Carlos Saura’s iconic flamenco series, to recordings with legends such as Enrique Morente, Carmen Linares, Manolo Sanlúcar, Navajita Plateá, and Diego el Cigala. He has performed on international stages alongside Tomatito, Joaquín Cortés, Antonio Canales, and the groundbreaking group Ketama.
Parrilla is also one-third of Alburejo (TikTok), a dynamic trio he formed with his brothers Juan (flute) and Manuel (guitar). Together, they blend traditional flamenco with fusion elements, creating music that respects the past while exploring new sonic landscapes.
With a bow that sings and a heart that listens, Bernardo Parrilla (Apple Music) continues to redefine what’s possible in flamenco. At the Chateau Flamenco Festival, his violin becomes both voice and pulse—bridging tradition and innovation with effortless grace.
Our Sponsors
The 4th Annual New Orleans Chateau Flamenco Festival would not be possible without the generosity of the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF). Elevating New Orleans to the World.
Thank you to Arts New Orleans: This program is supported in part by a Community Arts Grant made possible by the City of New Orleans as administered by Arts New Orleans. Thank you to The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation for your continued support.
Why You'll Want to Attend
- Experience the soul of Jerez — flamenco at its most authentic and festive.
- See a cast of world-class artists performing together in New Orleans.
- Be part of a performance that has captivated audiences from Los Angeles to Spain.
Don’t miss the opening night of the 4th Annual Chateau Flamenco Festival on November 15, 2025.