Flashes and glitters of the post-pandemic era in Oviedo. The city, with a radiant sun and 28 spring degrees, hosts the 42nd edition of the Princess of Asturias Awards. The expectation is very high on the night before the great ceremony at the Campoamor Theater. We headed to Prince Felipe Auditorium, which hosts the 30th anniversary of the awards concert. An act that has meant the return of Leonor to Spain. She is the official reappearance of her after her departure to Wales, where she is studying the second year of International Baccalaureate.
“Pletoric, this is how Oviedo is!”, some residents of the capital told me, making a gesture with open arms before the concert. The royal family has made its entrance through the main access to the Plaza del Fresno before 5:20 p.m. on Thursday, October 27. From the lobby, the press media heard the festive music of the Real Banda de Gaitas de la Ciudad. The atmosphere is warm, blue and festive.
We have passed the controls on Pérez de la Sala street, on the side of the auditorium. The music has launched the warning signal. The king has paved the way. Rain of flashes in the photocall. The Queen Letiziawith a dazzling fitted jewel dress has followed in the footsteps in the greeting line. Leonor, in a bright pink suit jacket, has waved to the media. Her sister Sofia her, very smiling, did not separate from her.
Felipe VI and Letizia have presided over the traditional awards concert with their daughters, which this year brings together bailaora María Pagés and cantaora Carmen Linares on stage in a flamenco show, together on stage 25 years after their last collaboration. The montage is titled Carmen y María. Two paths and one look. It is the great novelty of this musical event, since by tradition the concert prior to the awards ceremony is performed by the Principality of Asturias Symphony Orchestra (OSPA).
The imprint of flamenco has a special role in this edition of the awards. A tribute to this intangible heritage of humanity, by the hand of Pagés and Linares, winners in the category of Arts. The Jaen native was in charge of opening the awards week with the show “Paraíso de los Negros” at the Niemeyer Center (Avilés).
In this concert, Carmen Linares and María Pagés pay tribute, through a dialogue between song and dance, to some of the most representative voices of Spanish poetry, interpreting various subgenres of flamenco, such as tonás, bulerías, fandangos or tangos , among others. Through this art, they integrate poems by Juan Ramón Jiménez, Miguel Hernández, Federico García Lorca and Rafael Alberti. Also participating in the act are Salvador Gutiérrez and Rubén Levaniegos (guitar), Pablo Suárez (piano), Ana Ramón and Cristina Pedrosa (singing) and Ana María González and Rosario Amador (choirs and clapping).