Casa Limón New York Week Honors Flamenco Vocalist Carmen Linares

For the third year, Berklee’s Mediterranean Music Institute (MMI) collaborated with Casa Limón Records to put on Casa Limón New York Week, a celebration of Mediterranean music featuring performances by various artists, including Berklee alumni and students. The week culminated in Casa Limón Night, held at the DROM lounge in New York City. The evening honored Carmen Linares, a legendary flamenco singer, with the Berklee Master of Mediterranean Music Award. The accolade went to Linares for her achievements throughout her extraordinary career, her unquestionable commitment to promoting women in the arts, and her role as a trailblazer for younger flamenco singers.

The evening opened with a performance by Serbian singer-songwriter and Berklee alumna Tamara Jokic '19, who sang "Volarón hoy." Jokic was joined by Venezuelan singer Nella Rojas B.M. '15, who was nominated this year for the Best New Artist Latin Grammy Award. The duo performed two more tunes composed by MMI artistic director and composer Javier Limón. 

Listen to a podcast featuring Rojas's original song "Voy":

After the opening performance, Limón was joined onstage by Iberia Airlines' Juan Cierco, who presented the MMI with a check for $10,000 to continue the institute's work in promoting Mediterranean talents worldwide. 

Ann Kreis, trustee emeritus, then presented the Master of Mediterranean Music Award to Linares. In her remarks, Linares said, “Flamenco is a universal language, and to receive this award representing this music is a triumph for me and flamenco music.” She added, “I would like to thank the Berklee Mediterranean Music Institute for providing a place for flamenco music with the classes and these awards.” 

Linares was joined by her son, flamenco guitarist Eduardo Espín Pacheco, and together they performed two traditional flamenco tunes, “Cantes por alegrías” and “Cantiñas.” 

Spanish singer and songwriter Rebeca Jiménez followed. With Spanish producer, composer, and guitarist Toni Brunel, she performed “La Llorona,” a tribute to Mexican rancheras. 

A band formed by Berklee students and alumni continued with a showcase of musical projects developed over the past year. Chilean singer and Berklee student Regina Crisosto opened the showcase with a rendition of "Superstition" delivered to a dancing audience. Performances by student Martin Guas, Delfina Cheb B.M. '19, and Berklee City Music student Javier Limón Jr. followed. The evening closed with the band performing Rojas’s single "Volver," composed for Asghar Farhadi’s feature film Everybody Knows. 

Casa Limón New York Week 2019 was a collaboration between the Berklee Mediterranean Music Institute, Iberia Airlines, and Sony Music Latin.