In today's broadcast, after a brief newcast, we remember Spanish flamenco guitarist and composer Manolo Sanlúcar who died this past August 27th at the age of 78. With his instrumental composition "Caballo Negro" (Black Stallion) Sanlúcar reached number one in Spain's pop charts in the mid-70s.

In today's broadcast, after a brief newcast we welcome our new colleague, Helena Rigabert, to the English-Language Service of Radio Exterior de España. In our introduction, we hear a little bit about her background in radio broadcasting while we revisit some of Lluís Coloma and His Musical Troupe's songs included on Coloma's latest album, "Trip to Everywhere".

In today's broadcast, after a brief newscast we mark the 40th anniversary of the birth of the giant panda Chu-Lin, the first panda born in the Madrid Zoo. Chu-Lin's mother was a present for the King and Queen of Spain by the Government of China back in 1978. We look into Chu-Lin's birth and life in Spain, and listen to the children's song the panda inspired. The program also features music by Madrid-based singer-songwriter David Burnett and jazz pianist Ben Sidran.

In today's broadcast, after a brief newscast and before we revisit our interview with Cornelius, Madrid's tricycle-riding one-man band, Amy Egan talks to the founder of the Canadian contemporary ice skating company, Le Patin Libre. The company, which is based in Montreal, also gives street performances around the world on rollerskates. Amy Egan talked to Alexandre Hamel, the creator of the group, when they visited Madrid for the Veranos de la Villa summer festival. Among other things, he explains why he created Le Patin Libre, which works outside of the constraints of traditional skating competitions and shows.

After the news, in this broadcast Amy Egan visits the circus. A combination of the words 'Luz' and 'Lluvia' -- 'Light' and 'Rain'. This is the title of one of the 'Cirque du Soleil' shows currently touring the world, a show Amy Egan had the pleasure of visiting during one of their Spain stops, in the city of Alicante on the Mediterranean coast. Backstage, while rehearsals took place, Amy talked to the show's artistic director (Dawn Wilson), as well as two of the performers (hoop divers Nelson Smiles and Melvin Diggs). She also talked to the President of Touring Shows for Cirque Du Soleil. The show will be returning to Spain for Madrid shows in November. 'Luzia' is a show inspired by Mexican culture, full of music, heart, and, as the title suggests: light, and a lot of water.

After taking a look at news we return to Amy Egan's latest visit to Madrid's Thyssen Museum, where she talked to the curator of an exhibition of the personal letters of famous painters that will be running at the museum through September 25th.

After we take a look at news, Elsa Yazbek reports from Beirut on the resurgence of tourism in Lebanon. Then Justin Coe takes a decisive step towards bringing back his old spot on Spanish Columnists. To wrap things up, Amy Egan offers listeners a look at--and a listen to--Catalan jazz pianist Tete Montoliu on the 25th anniversary of his death.

After we take a look at news, astrophysicist Telmo Castro takes the English Language Broadcast on a tour of Madrid's Planetarium before sitting down to talk to Amy about Spain's role in the European Space Agency, the James Webb Space Telescope and the origins of the universe.

After news from Spain, in today's broadcast we hear again from our correspondent in Beirut, Elsa Yazbek, who reports on a fascinating photo and film exhibition looking at the Lebanese capital, past and present. Then Amy Egan continues her conversation with Sara Cebrián, the Science and Innovation Attaché of the British Embassy in Spain, with the focus this time on women in science and the work the Embassy does to support them.

After taking a look at news from Spain, today's broadcast features a fresh report from our correspondent in Beirut, Elsa Yazbek, on the second anniversary of the devastating port explosion in Beirut. The we return to Amy Egan's recent visit to the Gran Hotel Inglés, the Great English Hotel, situated at the heart of the Spanish capital, whose illustrious guests since it opened in the late 19th century have included English writer Virginia Woolf and Argentinian singer and actress Imperio Argentina.