by Craig Harris
Carmen Linares is one of the world's greatest flamenco singers. A master of the "jondo" style of singing, Linares has set her vocals to the classical-oriented accompaniment of symphonic and chamber orchestras for nearly two decades. Linares was the first flamenco singer to perform with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Linares has been equally forceful performing with the classic flamenco accompaniment of sole acoustic guitar. While The New York Times praised her for her "extraordinary and expressive power," El Mundo claimed "she possesses three invaluable virtues: power of communication, purity without purism, and all-around competence."
Linares has been honored with numerous awards, including the Prize Icaro of the Music and the Prize of the Culture Ministry in 1988, the French Academy Prize in 1992, and the Silver Medal of the Junta de Andalucia in 1997.