Carmen Linares is the stage name of Carmen Pacheco Rodríguez. Born in 1951 in Linares, Jaén Province, she is known as one of the finest flamenco singers in Spain. She belongs to the same generation of artists like Enrique Morente, Camaron, Paco de Lucía, Pepe Habichuela, José Mercé and Tomatito and she is considered as flamenco legend. Carmen Linares has carved out a place for herself in contemporary Spanish musical culture. She's conquered a privileged position in the world of Flamenco music on her own merits, having become one of Flamenco music's most critically acclaimed and international artists. She is recognized as flamenco lead vocal reference for young artist generation like Estrella Morente, Miguel Poveda, Pitingo, Arcangel, Marina Heredia and Rocio Marquez.
Biography
In the 1970s and '80s she worked in Madrid alongside artists such as Enrique Morente, Camarón, Carmen Mora, and the brothers Juan and Pepe Habichuela. That's how it all began. Carmen Linares was the chosen voice to re-open Manuel de Falla's original version of "El Amor Brujo" in the open of Seville Flamenco Biennial. She's been one of the first Flamenco artists who, invited by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, acted in the Lincoln Center. The New York Times described her as "a singer with incredible expressive power". She has sung with important conductors like Frühbech de Burgos, Josep Pons and Leo Brower. She recorded great flamenco albums like "Antología de la mujer en el cante" and "Lorca Traditional Popular Songs" Both album have been considered as top albums for flamenco specialist journalists. "Antología" was recorded with the guitars by Tomatito, Vicente Amigo, Moraito, Pepe Habichuela, Rafael Riqueni, etc. and its one of the most famous flamenco albums. In "Canciones Populares de Lorca" she sang lyrics of Federico García Lorca and won French AcademyBest Album. The first one because its about cante jondo classic and second one has been selected for soundtrack for Victor Ullate's Ballet and Theatral Piece "Un rato, un minuto, un siglo..." with actress Lola Herera. Carmen has got involved in projects like "Apocalipsis" with actress Irene Papas, "Locura de brisa y trino" by great guitar playerManolo Sanlúcar, "Poet in New York" by choreographer Blanca Li, "Lamentations of Jeremiah" by jazz pianistUri Caine whom she has performed in venues as prestigious auditoriums as the Lincoln Center in New York, Sydney Opera House, Theatre Chaillot in Paris, Liceo de Barcelona and Madrid Auditorium. Since 2009 to 2015 she has released several music projects like "Raíces y Alas", "Ensayo Flamenco", "Remembranzas" and "Oasis Abierto" dedicated to universal Spanish poets like Federico García Lorca, Juan Ramón Jiménez and Rafael Alberti.. Also she has premiered a new flamencojazz show titled "Cu4tro" with Jorge Pardo, Carlos Benavent and Tino Di Geraldo and a new flamencojazz "Encuentro" with Cañizares new adaptation about "El Amor Brujo" and flamenco traditional songs performing in Parco della Musica in Rome, Teatro de la Maestranza in Sevilla, Cite de la Musique in Paris, etc. In 2017 she release her new album "Verso a Verso homage to Miguel Hernández" and she won Best Flamenco Album MIN Awards. In 2018 she was on tour with the show "Tempo de Luz" with singers Arcangel and Marina Heredia in Carnegie Hall in New York, Sadler's Wells in London, Wilshire Elbell in Los Angeles, Teatro Grec in Barcelona, Miami Adrienne and Teatro del Canal in Madrid, etc. In 2019 she is also on tour with "El Amor Brujo" with symphonic orchestra and with her last album "Verso a Verso" accompanied by a piano, guitar, double bass, and drums. Carmen's voice seeks out intimacy to convey her flamenco expression in this selection of unique songs. In 2020 Carmen celebrates her 40th anniversary as singer with an extraordinary show titled "Carmen Linares: 40 years of flamenco". This is a concert with an essential repertoire that has elevated Carmen Linares as a flamenco legend. Her best songs from albums like "Antology", "Lorca Popular Songs", "Raíces y Alas" and tribute songs to Enrique Morente, Paco de Lucía and Mercedes Sosa. A very special night in which Carmen sings to us the musical identity of Andalusia. A very special tour during this 2020/2021 season that will feature with each concert a important artists such as Miguel Poveda, Luz Casal, Pitingo, Estrella Morente, José Mercé and Silvia Pérez Cruz and many more artists. She is the only flamenco woman artist who has won the NationalMusic Award by Ministry of Culture of Spain.
