Rosario Flores has said she is still in shock at becoming a grandmother as she prepares to mark more than three decades in music with a new compilation album and a concert in Marbella on Saturday.
Flores, born in Madrid in 1963 and the youngest daughter of flamenco legends Antonio González “el Pescaílla” and Lola Flores, will perform at Starlite Occident on August 1 to present Universo de Ley, a career-spanning compilation that brings together work from her 33 years in the industry.
She said she has wonderful memories of performing at Starlite and considers Marbella the place where she grew up, adding that she will arrive at the show fully committed alongside her musicians and dancers.
Grandmother for the First Time
Away from the stage, Flores has been adjusting to a major new role in her personal life. Her daughter Lola recently had a baby, making the singer a grandmother for the first time. Flores described the experience as the greatest joy and said the baby had barely arrived when she found herself overwhelmed by the miracle of new life. She said she is still a little in shock.
A Career in One Record
Universo de Ley draws on a body of work that has earned Flores platinum and gold records, several Latin Grammy awards, and a Medalla de las Bellas Artes. Some of the songs on the album were created when her brother Antonio was still alive.
She said the project was not easy to put together. Choosing the right songs was one challenge; coordinating the artists was another, as each had their own schedule and the musical keys had to be worked out. She said she is very proud of how it turned out.
The album features collaborations with Óscar D’León, Alejandro Sanz, Malú, Fito Páez, and Sebastián Yatra. Flores said every artist on the record has been part of her musical inspiration and her life, and that she loves them all. She singled out D’León, saying it is an honor to sing with him and something she never thought would be possible. She added that Alejandro Sanz has long been part of her life and her musical inspiration, and that she has known Malú since she was very young.
The Case for Seeing Her Live
Flores said anyone who has not seen her perform live does not really know her, describing herself as a live artist who can only fully express what she has when performing in person.
She attributed her long connection with audiences to authenticity. She said that when she first emerged, her soul and energy were bursting out and she gave everything with as much honesty as she could. She said she wants to believe she has always been genuine, and still is.
Documentary and a Return to Cinema
Flores said she would love a documentary about her life, pointing to a celebrated and award-winning documentary made about her late brother Antonio as a precedent. She said she wants the public to know everything she has done and worked for, and particularly to understand her private side, which she feels remains largely unknown. She added there is no rush and it will come in time.
She also expressed openness to returning to acting, saying cinema has always appealed to her and she would happily take on any beautiful role that came her way, long or short. Her sister recently returned to cinema with the film Mallorca sentimental, in which her niece Elena also appears.
Asked about recent paparazzi photos of her in a bikini at age 62, Flores said she thought she was carrying her age well, though she wished the photographers had waited for better light and a more flattering moment. She said she just barely got away with it.