Carmen Linares

Carmen Pacheco Rodríguez (Born in 1951 in Linares, Jaén), better known by her stage name Carmen Linares, is a Spanish flamenco singer.^[1]

She belongs a generation of flamenco artists along with Paco de Lucía, Camarón, Enrique Morente, Jose Mercé, Manolo Sanlúcar and Tomatito and she is considered a flamenco legend. Carmen Linares has carved out a place for herself in contemporary Spanish musical culture.

She was awarded Spain's Premio Nacional de Música for interpretation in 2001. In 2022 she received the Princess of Asturias Award in the category "Arts".^[2]

Carmen Linares was born in Linares, Jaén. She moved to Madrid with her family in 1965. Her professional career began in the dance company of Carmen Mora, and she made her first recording in 1971.

She is also recognized as a maestra for young generation like Miguel Poveda, Estrella Morente, Pitingo, and Arcangel. She became a prominent figure in the genre of world music and critically acclaimed in flamenco music.

In the 70s and 80s she worked in Madrid alongside artists such as Enrique Morente, Camarón, Carmen Mora, and the brothers Juan and Pepe Habichuela.

In the 90’s Carmen Linares performed Manuel de Falla’s El Amor Brujo, under conductors such as Josep Pons, Leo Brower, Rafael Frübech de Burgos and Victor Pablo in venues including the Lincoln Center in New York, the Sydney Opera House, and the Royal Albert Hall in London.

She has recorded classic albums such as Cantaora, Canciones Populares de Lorca, Antología de la mujer el cante and Raíces y Alas. Her on-stage performances include collaborations with artists such as Manolo Sanlucar, Eva Yerbabuena, Victor Ullate, Uri Caine, Blanca Lí, Irene Papas, María Pagés and Lola Herrera.

Over the last twenty years she has appeared in shows all over the world, with her performances of "Oasis Abierto", "Ensayo Flamenco", "Remembranzas", "Encuentro", and "Cu4tro". In these shows, Carmen played alongside artists such as Belén Maya, Jorge Pardo, Juan Manuel Cañizares, Gerardo Núñez, Rafaela Carrasco, Tomasito, Juan Carlos Romero, Miguel Poveda, Marina Heredia, Carles Benavent, Javier Barón, Tino Di Geraldo, etc.

She has sung the verses of most recognized Spanish poets such as Juan Ramón Jiménez, Federico García Lorca and Miguel Hernández. In 2018 she released her album “Verso a Verso” and perform with the show “Tempo de Luz” in Carnegie Hall in New York, Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami, Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles and Sadlers Wells in London.

“Carmen Linares’ voice has a unique expressive power.” NEW YORK TIMES

In 2021/2022 she launched "Cantaora: 40 years of Flamenco".

This shows has an setlist with women styles, Federico García Lorca lyrics, a tribute to Paco de Lucía and Enrique Morente and guest artists in every shows as Estrella Morente, Luz Casal, Miguel Poveda, Arcángel, Joan Manuel Serrat, and Silvia Pérez Cruz.

She was the only flamenco woman artist who won the Premio Nacional de Música by Ministry of Culture of Spain in 2001. In 2022 she received the Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts^[2] and Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award 2023.

• Foro Flamenco