Carmen Linares and María Pagés 2022 Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts

At its meeting in Oviedo, the Jury for the 2022 Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts, composed of Claude Bussac, José María Cano de Andrés, Dionisio González Romero, Antonio Lucas Herrero, Joan Matabosch Grifoll, Carlos Mena Ostériz, Helena Pimenta Hernández, José María Pou Serra, Sandra Rotondo Urcola, Benedetta Tagliabue, Carlos Urroz Arancibia and Tadanori Yamaguchi, chaired by Ricardo Martí Fluxá and with Catalina Luca de Tena y García-Conde, Marchioness of Valle de Tena, acting as secretary, has decided to grant the 2022 Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts to flamenco singer Carmen Linares and flamenco dancer and choreographer María Pagés.

The work of Carmen Linares and María Pagés forms part of the lineage of contemporary flamenco. Both in their respective disciplines have broadened the horizons of flamenco singing and dance (cante and baile), always with a sense of respect for tradition while daring to expand these forms of expression, thereby fostering the universal nature of an extraordinary cultural, popular and sensorial heritage.

Imbued with a desire for continuous exploration, their work provides flamenco with new tools while at the same time developing the language of a cultural form of expression that is enjoying a period of splendour in search of new horizons. The careers of both artists are replete with experiences that defend flamenco as one of the most suggestive musical genres of our time and an enduring and unique artistic phenomenon.

Oviedo, 5th May 2022