Luzmila Carpio: Arawi (Poem, Song)

"The Voice of the Andes" is the nickname given to the Bolivian singer Luzmila Carpio by her admirers. A star in traditional music of the Andes, Luzmila Carpio has gained international praise for her traditional Quechua songs that have brought indigenous Bolivian culture and history to the world. Born in a small village perched in the Andes Mountains, she has been taught from childhood the secrets of Aymara and Quechua traditional singing and became increasingly conscious of her cultural heritage. From 1969, when she recorded her first song titles, until today, Luzmila has gone on to become the Queen of Bolivian singing and has already recorded more than fifteen albums, four of which have been awarded gold records. She has won the admiration of the public by the exceptional purity of her voice, capable of rising to unimaginable heights and by the high quality of her repertoire, nourished from the purest of sources of a tradition lost in the shrouds of time. Just when you're getting used to the sound of her flute-like voice, she goes even higher, soaring like the flight of the Andean condor over the Altiplano. Her numerous tours have met with critical acclaim and won the respect of ever-growing legions of fans, and artists such as Mercedes Sosa. Yehudi Menuhin said upon hearing her: "Luzmila Carpio is a violin that sings". Sounding at times like the great Inca diva Yma Sumac, Carpio has created a movement based on the ancient Quechua credo of the creation of the earth. Her operatic performance towers over superb arrangements. Carpio has one of those voices which polarises an audience! In August of 2006, Carpio has been made ambassador of Bolivia to France.
Enjoy Luzmila's exceptional voice!