Rafael Riqueni and Tim Ries premiere Tunisia at Seville's Flamenco Biennial

Rafael Riqueni and Tim Ries gave the world premiere of Tunisia on September 21 at Seville's Teatro Lope de Vega as part of the XXIV Bienal de Flamenco. The festival billed the sold-out performance as an open dialogue between flamenco and jazz, built around improvisation rather than a simple guest spot or crossover arrangement.

Riqueni's guitar repertoire in the program included pieces such as La Glorieta de Bécquer, Puerto de Triana and Rumores, alongside music by Ries and adapted material including No Expectations and Yesterday. The pairing brings together Riqueni's deeply composed flamenco language with Ries's jazz background and years of work with artists including The Rolling Stones.

The premiere also carries extra weight within the Bienal: Riqueni first appeared at the festival in 1984 and has repeatedly used it as a stage for major chapters of his work. Tunisia extends that history with a new project centered on the guitar's conversation with another improvising voice.