The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Catalan poet Joan Margarit wins Spain’s Cervantes Prize
MADRID (AP) — Spain’s government announced Thursday that Catalan poet Joan Margarit won the 2019 Cervantes Prize, the Spanishspeaking world’s highest literary honor.
Margarit, who is also an architect, has published more than 20 volumes of poetry — mainly in Catalan but also in Spanish. The 81yearold has won several awards for his verse, including the Pablo Neruda prize in Chile.
“If a poem cannot console a person in a difficult situation then it is not worth anything,” Margarit told Spanish news agency Europa Press after hearing he had won the Cervantes Prize.
The jury said Margarit “has enriched both the Spanish and the Catalan language and represents the plurality of our culture.”
Catalan, along with Spanish, is spoken in Spain’s northeastern region of Catalonia.
The award for Margarit comes amid an increase in tensions in Catalonia over its separatist movement.
Asked about the political situation in Catalonia, the poet said he was “tired” of it.
The prizes are presented each April 23 on the anniversary of the death in 1616 of Miguel de Cervantes, author of “Don Quixote,“in a ceremony attended by King Felipe VI.
Alica Keys returning to host the Grammy Awards
(TNS) —Alicia Keys will be back to host the 62nd Grammy Awards (Jan. 26, CBS), and the recurring gig even came as a surprise to the superchill recording artist.
“At first I did think last year was a onetime thing but when the opportunity came back around there was no question about returning as host of the Grammy Awards,” the singersongwriter said in a statement Thursday.
“Last year was such a powerful experience for me. Not only did I feel the love in the room, but I felt it from around the world and it confirmed the healing and unifying power of music.”
The 15time Grammy Award winner announced her return Thursday in a silly video that threw back to her memorable moments from last year’s show, including her overthetop outfits.
Keys was hailed for her warm hosting abilities and was behind several of the ceremony’s standout moments such as the pleasantly surprised Staples Center audience when she opened the show with former First Lady Michelle Obama and nominee Lady Gaga onstage with her. Keyes later showed off her rhythmic prowess when she nailed a Hazel Scottinspired dual piano performance.
The reviews of Keys’ Grammys gig were widely positive last year.
“The ‘Girl on Fire’ singer dared to be warm and personable for her hosting debut, veering away from the usual deprecating humor, snack gags and political barbs that often drive major awards shows.
She won over a notoriously cool crowd, and she set the tone for the most critically lauded Grammys in recent history,” wrote Times TV critic Lorraine Ali in her review.
“Live from the Staples Center — it’s your cool aunt, Alicia Keys!” added Rolling Stone. “Amid the public feuds, boycotts and shows of Academy power leading up to the annual event, the 15time Grammy winner countered the music industry’s high drama with a decidedly laidback approach to her highprofile hosting gig. Keys was certainly there to make friends, generously passing artists compliments like she was passing them joints. She regaled the audience with her own Grammy stories, and seemed perfectly at ease bantering with everyone.”