Difficulty: Beginner
Mexico
Arriving in December of ‘71, a young Arturo Vega decides that it is New York where he is going to clavar, or stay put. His journey began in Mexico, where he began his artistic life as an actor and participant in experimental theater or “happenings”—an art form which was not well received by the powers that be in that country.
Difficulty: Beginner
Mexico
A little research tells us that the musical comedy Arturo did with Héctor Suárez at the Teatro de los Insurgentes was Sigue tu onda (Follow Your Wave), a Spanish language adaptation of a Broadway show known to American theater-goers as Your Own Thing. Soon Arturo himself would be heading to New York on a tip from Paul McCartney’s agent that he could land a spot in Hair...
Difficulty: Beginner
Mexico
Some people could see Arturo Vega as just a guy who happened to design the Ramones logo, but the truth is that he had to get his hands dirty with hard work, and that meant loading tons of equipment, manning the lights and basically doing whatever was needed by the band. The reward was great: thousands, maybe millions, wearing an image that he created.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Argentina
Bajofondo is the fusion of different musicians from the Río de la Plata area, Uruguayans and Argentineans. In 2003, they won the Latin Grammy for “Best Pop Instrumental Album” for their new genre: Electronic Tango. We interviewed Luciano Supervielle and Martín Ferres after a show in Germany about their most recent European tour.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Argentina
Bajofondo is, according to the group, a “collective of composers, singers and artists.” They started out as the Bajofondo Tango Club with a strong tango influence, but have since broadened their sound. Here they talk about the collective and begin a discussion of their sound.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Uruguay
Echarri and his sister grew up without excess wealth, and even a hint of poverty, but they were happy. Circumstances only served to pull the family together and make them stronger.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Uruguay
Winning the Xuxa Paquita contest convinced her to move to Buenos Aires. Unfortunately for Natalia, it wasn’t easy to be sixteen and out on her own. She was lonely, and she struggled, but pride and her fierce ambition kept her from quitting.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Uruguay
The showbiz life can be cruel, even when you’re young, talented and beautiful. Though she came from nearby Uruguay, Natalia’s Argentine peers in their native Buenos Aires weren’t afraid to let her know she was a stranger infringing on their turf.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Argentina
Sure, Natalia has had it rough. A certifiable worldwide hit with Muñeca Brava, a stud actor boyfriend followed by a superstar musician boyfriend, a rising singing career; she’s the kind of girl many mere mortals would love to hate. But… she’s just impossible to dislike!
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Argentina
Off-screen, Natalia Oreiro’s love life sounds a lot less complicated than her on-screen characters’. After her six-year relationship with fellow actor Pablo Echarri ended amicably, she found love with the front man of the band “Divididos,” Ricardo Mollo, with whom she had more in common with than people seem to think.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Argentina
Natalia Oreiro’s life keeps getting better after her marriage to Dividos’ Ricardo Moyo. But she knows that when you get so much from life, you have to give something back, and that’s why she’s constantly trying to help people.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Argentina
This is the final part in Natalia Oreiro’s biography. We have seen family, friends and coworkers talk about her successful professional career and personal life. We’ve felt both jealous and glad when listening to all her achievements. Luckily, Natalia is still working hard to please us!
Difficulty: Intermediate
Puerto Rico
“Rock en español” is what we refer to the relatively new movement of musicians from Spanish speaking countries singing in their native language. Back in the sixties and seventies, these musicians were taken up with rock like much of the rest of the world, but they sang in English. Puerto Rican Carli Muñoz explains while looking back over his career.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Spain Andalusia
Carolina talks about different accents and styles of speaking Spanish, particularly those found within Spain itself. Carolina is from Andalusia, in the South, and she contrasts her accent and common expressions with those of people from Barcelona and other regions.
Difficulty: Beginner
Ecuador
The Tsáchila community has undertaken the task of opening its doors to foreign visitors, giving them the opportunity to learn more about their traditions and culture.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Spain
A member of the all-female band "Wha Wha Buga" from Donostia, Spain, explains how the group started and gives her perspective on women in the music business.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Spain
Depedro is the solo project of Spanish singer and guitar player Jairo Zavala. Here, Yabla talks to the talented musician from Madrid about his exploration of Latin American pop, picking up new instruments on tour in Mexico, his musical beginnings and his appearances with U.S.-based Calexico.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Colombia, Dominican Republic
Cleer interviews the members of the acclaimed Colombian band, Doctor Krápula, known for both their music and social activism.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Spain
The Director of the Cervantes Institute in London talks about its role in promoting not only the renowned Spanish author's work but also the Spanish language and culture throughout the world.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Spain
The Chief Librarian at the Cervantes Institute in London tells us about the library's resources and users as well as what it is like to work there.
Difficulty: Intermediate
USA
Singer Cecilia Villar Eljuri, considered one of the top female guitarists of her time and recognized for her socially-conscious lyrics, was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and raised in New York by multicultural parents. In this candid interview, she talks about the ways in which her exposure to different places, cultures and types of music has influenced the evolution of her music.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Dominican Republic
Annya shares a bit about her background in flamenco and what she feels makes it unique among other art forms.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Spain
Meet Alejandro Hermann, a fascinating, world-renowned artist born of an Austrian father and French mother who studied in the best Parisian art schools and resides in Marbella, Spain.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Spain
Francisco Pérez talks about his life as a student in the Universidad Pontivicia’s other school, la Universidad de la Experiencia de Salamanca, a place where elders like himself become college students again.
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