Departures of note

Enrique Soto Barea, known artistically as Enrique Sordera, was a flamenco cantaor born in the Santiago district of Jerez de la Frontera on 23 June 1952. He was the eldest son of the patriarch Manuel Soto Monje 'Sordera' and belonged to one of the most storied flamenco dynasties, with ancestors including Niño Gloria, Tío José de Paula and Paco La Luz, and relatives such as his brother Vicente Soto Sordera and cousin José Mercé. As a child he moved with his family to Madrid, where he began his professional career in the city's most celebrated tablaos, including the Arco de los Cuchilleros, Corral de la Morería, Los Canasteros and Café de Chinitas.

In 1983 he was chosen to join the company of Manuela Vargas, and went on to work with the ballet of Cristina Hoyos in the show 'Sueños andaluces' and to make his first tour of the United States with José Greco. He also sang for Merche Esmeralda, Mario Maya, El Güito, Antonio El Bailarín and especially Eva Yerbabuena, with whom he took part in several international tours. After moving to Seville in the 1990s he recorded his first solo album, 'Como lo Siento', surrounded by leading guitarists such as Vicente Amigo, Enrique de Melchor, Moraíto Chico and Juan Habichuela, followed by 'Compás', the tribute to his father 'A un patriarca', a recording with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the album 'Herencias'.

In 2001, following his father's death, he assumed the role of custodian of the family's flamenco legacy, and in 2002 he starred in the documentary series 'Puro y jondo'. Over the following two decades he remained away from recording studios but continued performing on stage, winning acclaim for his command of tarantos, soleá por bulerías, bulerías, soleares, cantiñas, seguiriyas and martinetes. In 2025 the Cátedra de Flamencología de Jerez recognized his artistic career with the Copa Jerez de Cante. He died on 27 August 2026 at the age of 74.