Flamenco icon Carmen Linares, celebrated for her distinctive voice and role in championing female expression in the genre, will receive the Golden Medal at the Úbeda Festival. This prestigious award is presented annually to individuals, groups, and entities for their significant contributions to music, art, and culture.

The award ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, May 23rd, coinciding with Linares' participation in one of the concerts of the 38th edition of the musical cycle. The event will publicly highlight her artistic excellence and distinguished career.

In a special performance, Carmen Linares will share the stage with avant-garde bailaor Jesús Carmona. They will be accompanied by the Orchestra Sinfónica de la Región de Murcia, conducted by Manuel Coves. The concert will take place at 10 PM in the magnificent Plaza Vázquez de Molina, a landmark of Úbeda, a UNESCO World Heritage city.

This concert serves as a tribute to the 150th anniversary of the birth of Manuel de Falla. The program will feature two of his masterpieces, ‘The Three-Cornered Hat’ and ‘The Bewitched Love’, with a special nod to cante jondo, a key source of inspiration for the composer.

Carmen Linares has earned a prominent place in contemporary Spanish culture, belonging to the same generation as flamenco legends like Camarón, Paco de Lucía, and Enrique Morente. Born in Linares (Jaén) in 1951, her name is etched in the history of Spanish music over the last fifty years. She has released 15 albums and collaborated with numerous artists, performing works by literary giants such as Federico García Lorca and Manuel de Falla on international stages.

Her album ‘Antología de la mujer’ (1996) is considered one of the most essential recordings in flamenco history. In 2022, she was honored with the Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts, solidifying her status as a flamenco legend.

Upon receiving the Golden Medal, Carmen Linares will join a distinguished list of past recipients, including figures such as Montserrat Caballé, Alfredo Kraus, and Jordi Savall.

The festival also includes the 'Music and Heritage' series, transforming Úbeda's emblematic sites into unique performance venues, supported by the Fundación Caja Rural de Jaén. This week features two concerts: 'La noche sosegada' on Thursday, May 21st, and Johann Sebastian Bach's 'Goldberg Variations' on Friday, May 22nd, at the Church of San Lorenzo.