Album Notes

The Voice of the Andes is the nickname given to the Bolivian singer, Luzmila Carpio, by her most praise worthy admirers.

Born in a small village perched in the Andes Mountains, Luzmila Carpio is a Quechua Indian, descendant of the men and women who built one of humanity's greatest civilizations and whose empire glowed with all its splendor just before disappearing, a victim of the Spanish invasion.

From 1969, when she recorded her first song titles, until today, Luzmila Carpio has traveled the world to ensure that her people's voice is heard and their identity respected. 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 purist of sources of a tradition lost in the shrouds of time.

This CD has been awarded by a "CHOC", "DIAPASON D'OR" (golden tuning fork) and "R by Recommended" from respectively "Le Monde de la Musique", "Diapason", "Repertoire"
the most prestigious music magazines in France.

Opinions

"... Luzmila Carpio belongs to perhaps the most ignored and forgotten races of the ancient world, victim of European pride. The European declared himself superior to the native, dominating both their people and their land. These lands had been protected and loved by those who dwelt in them and held them in reverence. Perhaps only in the Bolivian Altiplano we can still find the true voice, the heart of these ancient people who have still so much to teach us. Certainly, until we recollect and respect them again, we can enjoy no title to justice..."
Lord YEHUDI MENUHIN, Brussels

"... Voy a cantar una cancion que me cantaba mi madre y que quiero dedicarla a una gran cantante que esta aqui esta noche, que es Luzmila Carpio. Le quiero dedicar esta cancion, por su garganta, por su voz, por su personalidad y por todo lo que abarca su postura social y humana, defendiendo lo que creo que es lo mas profundo y esencial que se puede defender : un idioma..." PACO IBAÑEZ, Barcelona, Spain

"... Y de repente, una tarde-noche, un domingo, yo sentí el canto de un pájaro, un canto extraordinariamente bello. Puede usted creerme o no creerme. Y me dije: Mira, escucha a Luzmila cantando con las madres, sus cantos de Bolivia... Somos irrepetibles, somos únicos, por más que estemos solos; el canto nos ampara, viene de cualquier parte y se queda en el alma, como esa vez con Luzmila..."
MERCEDES SOSA, Buenos-Aires, Argentina

"... Ta voix vient du centre de ta grande et belle terre, des hautes altitudes de ton pays, du plus profond de tout ton être, elle est rêve et réel, cri d'enfant, et pensée aiguë de philosophe, elle me bouleverse et me transporte car elle est comme un pont entre la terre et les cieux...."
MARCEL MARECHAL, Paris, France