Last night’s performance by Lela Soto at the Flamenco Festival 2025 was spellbinding – a searing, traditional flamenco experience that reached deep into the soul and refused to let go.
Presented at Sadler’s Wells, El fuego que llevo dentro (“The Fire I Carry Within”) is more than a debut album – it’s a visceral, emotionally-charged tribute to the extraordinary flamenco lineage from which Lela Soto hails. As the daughter of Vicente Soto “Sordera” and granddaughter of Manuel Soto “Sordera”, Lela is flamenco royalty – and last night, she wore that crown with fire and grace.
Her voice, steeped in centuries of tradition yet undeniably her own, rang out with unfiltered power. Each cante was delivered with such emotional rawness that one could almost feel the weight of her ancestors standing beside her on stage. She offered up more than a performance – this was a ritual, an inheritance passed down through generations, channelled with reverence and fierce individuality.
While the instrumentation was kept respectfully traditional – stripped back and intimate – the overall effect was utterly cinematic. From the moment she stepped on stage, Lela took command of the space, weaving in stories of love, longing, grief and survival, with echoes of her female forebears gently guiding the tone of the night. The guitar was beautifully played and kept me very focused throughout the performance.
What made this performance stand out was not just her vocal mastery, but the sheer emotional intelligence with which she inhabited every word. Flamenco is often described as “duende” – a deep, almost painful authenticity – and Lela delivered this in spades. Her pain, her joy, her pride were laid bare for all to witness.
There was no spectacle here, no flash or frills. Just the haunting purity of a woman honouring her roots, her family, and the countless women whose stories rarely made it to the centre stage – until now.
In an age of over-produced sound and digital noise, El fuego que llevo dentro was a reminder that true art still lies in vulnerability and heritage. This wasn’t flamenco for the faint-hearted – it was flamenco in its purest, most unapologetic form.
London Mums’ Rating: 4/5
An unforgettable evening of ancestral power, female legacy, and raw flamenco brilliance. Lela Soto doesn’t just sing – she summons.
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