Madrid's Feria del Libro book fair began last Friday, and here at the English Language Broadcast we kicked off the three-week-long event with hispanist Ian Gibson. Born in Dublin, Ireland, Gibson has Spanish nationality and has dedicated the better part of his life to twentieth-century poet and dramatist Federico García Lorca, and has written about him extensively. Now, after a lifetime of writing biographies on important figures of Spain's contemporary history, he delves into his own past in 'Un Carmen en Granada', his latest book. We talk in depth about his life as a biographer and his love for Lorca and Spain at Spanish National Radio's own stand in the book fair, moments before one of his book signings.

In today's broadcast, after the news we meet Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith who has returned to Spain fifteen years after his last visit.  Besides giving concerts in Madrid and Barcelona, he performed a couple of songs live on Radio 3, Spanish National Radio's domestic youth music and culture station.  We hear those live performances as well as tunes from earlier albums, and talk to this talented and disarmingly unassuming artist whose admirers include Paul McCartney and Steve Earle.  Ron Sexsmith—who can perhaps best be described as a songwriter's songwriter—is currently presenting his new album, "The Vivian Line."  Released in February, it's the 17th album in his ample discography, its songs composed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In today's broadcast, and after taking a look at the news, we talk about a trilogy of crime novels and thriller written by American author J.K. Franko, who was in Madrid presenting the Spanish translation of his work. With his background in Philosophy and Law, the author explores the different aspects of criminal justice and legal system in a story of a perfect crime.We also hear from our correspondent in Lebanon, Elsa Yazbek, who tells us about a protest for women's rights, and Amy Egan follows the opening of the new branch of the Cervantes Institute in Edinburgh with words from its director Alexis Grohmann.

The 38th Madrid en Danza international dance festival is currently taking place in the capital, and in today's broadcast, we talk to two directors with shows being performed: Ann Van Der Broek, with the show 'Joy Enjoy Joy', described as a "tentative ode to happiness"... and Hofesh Sheckter, whose show 'Double Murder' brings two performances together... one more macabre than the other.

In today's broadcast, after the news and a new Report From Lebanon sent in by our Beirut correspondent Elsa Yazbek, we talk to Joan Anton Rechi, the director of Andorra's new Clàssicand Festival.  Set to take place from June 2nd through 11th in the principality of Andorra, situated in the Pyrenees Mountains between Spain and France, this year's edition is the first of this new international festival dedicated to classical music, dance and performing arts.  We also talk to Catalan actress Ariadna Gil, who will be on stage for a performance at the festival entitled "Vivir / Morir" (To Live / To Die), based on a book by French writer and rabbi Delphine Horvilleur.  The broadcast ends with the music of Basque accordionist Gorka Hermosa, who is in Berlin this weekend for the premiere of his new composition "Peace Dream." 

In today's broadcast, and after taking a look at the news, we talk about the challenge 'Healthy Cities' that this year reaches its eighth edition with a record number of participants. This is an initiative of the health care provider Sanitas in collaboration with more than 200 other companies, where participants have to walk 6000 steps daily over a period of two months. We talked about the importance of carrying out initiatives such as 'Healthy Cities' with the chiefs of Sustainability of Sanitas, Catherine Cummings and Yolanda Erburu. And on occasion of International Museum Day on the 18th of May, we take a brief tour through some of the most important museums in Madrid. 

On the day marking the 35th anniversary of the introduction of teletext in television broadcasting in Spain our focus is, however, not on electronic media, but rather on the traditional and time-honoured medium of paint and canvas. And, in particular, on the work of Antony Williams. A new show of paintings by this crtically acclaimed British artist has just opened at Madrid's Leandro Navarro Gallery, and we pay the gallery a visit to see the paintings and meet the artist. The painting that accompanies this podcast, "Antonia Looking Up," is one of the works by Antony Williams on exhibit at the Madrid show, which runs through June 30th. The catalogue can be viewed on-line.

In today's broadcast, Spain welcomes the English National Ballet at the Teatro Real in Madrid, with a revival of the classical ballet 'Raymonda'... The show's director and choreographer, Tamara Rojo, was the artistic director of the English National Ballet for ten years, and is currently the director of the San Francisco Ballet. She reworked the original story for the ENB, changing the story's setting and drawing inspiration from Florence Nightingale in her reimagining of the ballet's titular character. We also visit a new exhibition about the early works of abstract artist Joan Miró in the Gugenheim museum in Bilbao, and get ready for this year's Eurovision final.

In today's broadcast, and after taking a look at the news, we talk about a non-profit cultural association that takes literature to rural areas of Spain. Maribel Medina is a Spanish writer and the director of ‘Mi Pueblo Lee’ (My town reads), who tells us about the initiative. We also talk to Spanish writer Alejandro Palomas, one of the authors that has participated in the ‘Mi Pueblo Lee’ literary festival of since its beginning, three years ago.

In the wake of the historic event that was the coronation of Charles III on Saturday, we tackle Spain's own past, present and future through Australian playwright Andrew Bovell's latest play, "Canción del Primer Deseo" -- "Song of First Desire". The play gets its name from a Federico García Lorca poem, and follows the story of a young Columbian man who returns to his grandmother's home-country of Spain decades after his family fled from the dictatorship.