Carmen Linares

"Linares'… expressive power is extraordinary" /New York Times, 03/11/199

Carmen Linares, today’s great female voice of flamenco, has been celebrated throughout the world for her exquisite and elegant style. A driving force in contemporary flamenco, she has recorded for thirty years and received many awards.

She was born in Linares (Jaén), in Andalusia, and begun to sing at an early age under the guidance of her father. In 1968 she won the first prize at the Competition of Flamenco Art in Cabra. She has toured the world with such top flamenco performers as Camaron de la Isla, Enrique Morente, Paco Romero, and Carmen Mora, and appeared in Carlos Saura's film Flamenco.

Her extensive repertoire, which ranges from pure flamenco to the music of Manuel de Falla, has brought her to the world's major stages, both in solo appearances and with symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles. She has performed with conductors Josep Pons, Rafael Fruhbeck, and Leo Brouwer, among others, and toured Europe, the United States, South America, Japan, and Australia to great success. She was invited by the New York Philharminc to join the tribute to Manuel de Falla at Lincoln Center, and to the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Opera Of Sydney, and the Teatro Colón of Buenos Aires, among others. Her recordings include Un Ramito de Locura, Cantaora, La Luna en el Rio, and Popular Ancient Songs. Her albums have been acclaimed by critics and have received numerous awards, such as the Silver Medal of Junta de Andalucía and Spain’s National Music Award.