RNE's 'The Critical Eye' turns thirty years old

Fernando Velázquez, author of the soundtracks for 'The Impossible' and 'El Orfanato' and Aida Folch, protagonist of 'The Artist and the Model', among those awarded by 'El Ojo Crítico' in an edition that coincides with his three decades of life.

The pianist Joaquín Achúcarro received this Thursday the Special Award 'El Ojo Crítico' 2012, together with the singer Loquillo, recognized with the Special 30th Anniversary award of the cultural program of Radio Nacional, which has completed three decades on the air this February 14. The awards ceremony was held at a gala at the Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid, presented by Alberto Martínez Arias and Mara Torres and broadcast live on RNE's 'El Ojo Crítico', on RTVE.ES and, for the first time, on TVE's La 2.

“I would like to be able to convey what I am feeling,” said Joaquín Achúcarro upon receiving the Special ‘El Ojo Crítico’ award. For the pianist from Bilbao, receiving such recognition "is something fantastic after 50 years of career. This award tells me that I have not aged. It is a beginning, a stimulus, and a responsibility to move forward."

Joaquín Achúcarro is, according to the jury, “one of the most important performers of Spanish music and, above all, a humanist in the broadest sense of the word, beyond his tireless passion for the piano, to which he has dedicated his eighty years of life.” He gave his first concert at the age of 13 and has not stopped touring the world, in collaboration with more than 200 orchestras with the most renowned conductors and in the best concert halls.

The president of the RTVE Corporation, Leopoldo González Echenique, when presenting the Special 'El Ojo Crítico' award, announced that "we are aware that with these awards we cannot take over all artistic manifestations, because culture is infinite, but starting next year a new one will be added to these awards, the 'El Ojo Crítico' Dance award."

For his part, Loquillo has been “proud and grateful” to receive the Special 30th Anniversary award from ‘El Ojo Crítico’. The singer has pointed out that in this program and on Radio Nacional, he feels at home: "All of you have seen me grow as an artist and person. I want to share this award with you and with everyone who has helped me get here."

José María Sanz, Loquillo, is an essential character in national rock. His career began in 1980, when he formed Loquillo y los Intocables, then Loquillo y los Trogloditas, which continued until 2008. The award recognizes "his brilliant and uninterrupted career in the contemporary music of this country. Loquillo has known how to create a popular sound, leaving in musical memory true anthems with a flavor very close to that of author's music."

He received the award from the director of RNE, Manuel Ventero, who highlighted the fact that Loquillo "has just turned 30 years on stage, just like 'El Ojo Crítico' and he has done it with the same desire as the program to continue learning to live, with his whole life ahead of him."

During the awards ceremony, the stage hosted performances by Loquillo, the composer Fernando Velázquez, the actors from the Teatro Tribueñe, and the poet Vanesa Pérez-Sauquillo. The awards have been presented by many of those who have been directors and presenters of 'El Ojo Crítico' throughout its history, as well as by the president of the RTVE Corporation, Leopoldo González Echenique, the director of RNE, Manuel Ventero, and the Secretary of State for Culture, José María Lassalle. Also attending the event were, among others, Fernando Delgado, promoter of the program thirty years ago, and Ignacio Corrales, director of TVE.

'El Ojo Crítico' Awards 2012

The seven 'El Ojo Crítico' awards of this XXIII edition have gone to: Fernando Velázquez (Classical Music), author of the soundtracks of 'The Impossible' and 'El Orfanato', among others; Aida Folch (Cinema), protagonist of Fernando Trueba's latest film, 'The Artist and the Model'; the Tribueñe Theater (Theater); Vanesa Pérez-Sauquillo (Poetry), for her latest published book, 'Clímax Road'; Use Lahoz (Narrative), for his novel 'The Lost Station'; John Talabot (Modern Music); and Fernando García-Dory (Plastic Arts).

The 'El Ojo Crítico' awards were created by the cultural program of Radio Nacional 23 years ago with the aim of discovering and rewarding young talents. These awards have become one of the best supports for the dissemination and promotion of artists who are beginning their careers, since they have given their works great subsequent recognition.

30 years on the air

'El Ojo Crítico' was born on February 14, 1983 as a cultural news program. It is carried out by the Culture Area of ​​Radio Nacional and all artistic disciplines have a place in it. Its usual format includes an in-depth interview with a current cultural figure and several reports prepared in collaboration with territorial stations. In addition, the program includes a critical section in which different specialists intervene. Directed and presented by Alberto Martínez Arias, it is broadcast from Monday to Friday, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., on Radio Nacional.

With three decades on the air, it is one of the network's oldest programs. Prominent RNE professionals have passed through this space, which has been presented by Carlos Blanco, Charo Mostaza, Teodoro Izquierdo, Eduardo Moyano, Javier Lostalé, Ángeles Caso, Modesta Cruz, Eduardo Sotillos, Paz Ramos, Arrate Sanmartín and Juan Carlos Soriano, Paloma Zuriaga, Ana Roldán, and Laura Barrachina, with Jordi Barcia, Julio Valverde and Manu Martínez.