Singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat wins Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts

Catalan singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat has been named as the recipient of the Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts 2024. 

The jury agreed unanimously to recognize Serrat, "for the scope of an artistic career that transcends music and becomes a civic reference." 

"In Serrat's work, with deep Mediterranean roots, the art of poetry and music come together in the service of tolerance, shared values, the richness of linguistic and cultural diversity, and a necessary desire for freedom," the jury statement published on Wednesday said. 

"Defender of dialogue in the face of tension, the work of Joan Manuel Serrat is an exponent of his inalienable vocation to build bridges between countries and generations," it concluded. 

Organizers described Serrat as "one of the most prominent figures of modern song." 

"His songs are part of the emotional memory of several generations in Spain and Latin America, both in Catalan and Spanish, two languages that he has encouraged and helped to progress, far from any confrontation, as vehicles of harmony and understanding." 

A life dedicated to music 

Born in Barcelona in 1943, Serrat is one of Catalonia's most-loved musicians. He retired in 2022 after almost six decades of live performances. 

His final world tour kicked off in New York and concluded with three emotional nights in Barcelona. 

"It has been a pleasure to meet you all," Serrat said before stepping down from stage for the last time in his career. 

Serrat was awarded Catalonia's top cultural distinction in 2023. 

Previous winners of the Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts include British architect Norman Foster, Catalan actor Núria Espert, American filmaker Martin Scorsese and American actor Meryl Streep.