Fernanda y Bernarda

Biography

Fernanda and Bernarda Jiménez Peña were born in Utrera on the 9th of February 1923 and the 3rd of March 1927, respectively, at number 20 calle Nueva. Daughters of José Jiménez Fernández and Inés Peña Vargas, both from Utrera, although their grandparents descend from Alcala and Lebrija. One can not ignore, along these lines, that thier grandfather was Fernando Pinini. This explains the reason why they began to sing at such a young age in the heart of their gypsy family and that Fernanda has always been considered the best singer of 'solea´ style of all times.

The artistic attitude of the sisters was never looked on favourably by their father, a slaughterman who earned enough money to protect his daughters so they had no need to find thier own living at such a young age. However, Fernanda and Bernarda appeared in the 1948 Edgar Nevilles´ film "Duende y misterio del flamenco". Later on Antonio Mairena, who maintained a great friendship with the aforementioned slaughterman, convinced him to let his daughters record an album. The maestro baptised them as Niñas de Utrera and thier first record was entitled "Sevilla, cuna del cante". Soon they went to Madrid, where they worked in the 'tablaos´ Zambra, Corral de la Morería, Torres Bermejas y Las Brujas. They travelled to New York to participate in the International Fair and were later enthroned in the Córdoba National Competition of Flamenco Art, where they caught the attention of the Argentinean Anselmo González Climent. Later on they gained much more recognition and record contracts with different firms: Columbia, Hispavox, Zafiro, Vergara, Movieplay, Pasarela, Radio France, Proampro, Tononut, Tartesso. In 1988 Utrera dedicated a street to them and a year later Fernanda received the Rhythm of Flamenco Singing Prize awarded by the Cruzcampo Foundation. In 1994 the 'Junta de Andalucía´ - Regional Andalusian Government - awarded the two sisters the Silver Medal of Andalusia. Onthis same year, Utreras Town Hall named them Predilect Daughters of the city, something which Sevilla Council also did, in naming them Predilect Daughters of the Province in 2000. In the artistic aspect, in 1986 the sisters were a success in New York in a performance, which other artists of the size of El Chocolate, Farruco and Manuela Carrasco, also assisted The Queen Sofía herself congratulated them for their greatness that night. Forging a legend of song for dancing and solos. On numerous occasions they appeared along with the guitarists Diego del Gastor and Melchor de Marchena on all the possible stages. Fernanda participated singing 'soleá´ style in Carlos Sauras´ Flamenco along with Paco del Gastor. Where one, the other or both went flamenco itself trembled with pleasure.

Discography

Álbum:

1970 El Cante de Fernanda y Bernarda de Utrera (LP, Vinilo) Hispavox HH 10-379

1972 Su Cante (LP) Movieplay S-21.442      

1974 Fernanda y Bernarda de Utrera (LP, Álbum) Movieplay S-26.217

1987 Cante Flamenco (2xCD, Comp) Ocora C558642

1988 Cante Flamenco - Concierto en París (2xLP, Álbum, Boo) Ocora 558642/43          

1990 Raza y Compás (LP) Pasarela, S.L. PSD-5072 00        

1990 Raza y Compás (CD, Álbum, RE) Pasarela CDP 1/932

1990 Flamenco viejo: el Flamenco como suena. Raza y Compás - Fernanda y Bernarda de Utrera; guitarras: Manolo Domínguez y José Luis Postigo (CD, Álbum, carátula con biografías) Pasarela: CDP 2/509, DL: SE 917-1990

1993 El Cante de Fernanda y Bernarda de Utrera – Guitarrista: Juan Maya (Grabación histórica Hispavox 1979 – Edición en CD de 1993) Hispavox 789479 2

1999 Cantes inéditos. Fernanda y Bernarda de Utrera (2xCD, Álbum + libro) Barsa Promociones: CD-01036 aCD-01037. DL: M 29852-1999, M 29583-1999

Singles y EPs:

1968 Romance de la Reina Mercedes / No soy de madera / Mis niños (7", EP) Hispavox HH 16-681

1970 Si me ven hablar contigo (7", EP) Zafiro ZE-767                       

1970 La Tierra que a mí me cubra (7", EP) Hispavox HH 16-746

Recopilatorios:

Potaje Gitano de Utrera: La Fernanda, La Bernarda, El Perrete, Pepa de Utrera y Pa co Valdepeñas. Guitarras: Melchor de Marchena, Juan Carmona "Habichuela” y Enrique Escudero (LP, Vinilo, Comp) Hispavox HH 10-337

1997 Ritmo en la sangre (CD, Comp) Hispavox, Hispavox, EMI 100 8 23679 2, 7243 8 23679 2 5

Video:

2006 Fernanda y Bernarda de Utrera, Antonio Mairena, El Perrate de Utrera, El Lebrijano, Tomás Torre - Rito y Geografía del Cante Flamenco Vol. 7(DVD-V) rtve 334953

Further information