Shakira completes La 1's musical special before the grapes

RTVE has taken the concept of The House of Music very seriously. After the setback caused by the stress-related withdrawal of Andreu Buenafuente and Silvia Abril from the New Year's Eve broadcast, the public network chose to place Chenoa and Estopa at the helm of this challenging task. It was not the first time for the singer from Mallorca, who had already experienced the New Year's Eve grapes with Àngel Llàcer on TV3, but it was for the Muñoz brothers, who accepted the challenge with "the greatest excitement" of their lives.

But there was a plan behind it, as RTVE has gradually revealed over these days. The first surprise was given by María Eizaguirre, the Corporation's communication director, when, during the broadcast of the Extraordinary Christmas Lottery Draw, she announced that La Oreja de Van Gogh would present their new single at the musical gala prior to the New Year's Eve celebration. "It will be a historic New Year's Eve. We are going to kick off The House of Music. It will be a very special year, as it is the 70th anniversary of RTVE. How are we going to celebrate? Our jackpot will be one of the most awaited singles. It marks the return of this group from San Sebastián. It's her comeback after 18 years. La Oreja de Van Gogh returns and does so on RTVE," commented the executive.

Minutes later, the public entity and the band released a video on their social networks. "Hello, how are you? We are La Oreja de Van Gogh and this year we are going to spend New Year's Eve at Spanish Radio and Television," explained Montero. "We are going to present a new song, previously unreleased, just before the Chimes. It truly is a pleasure to celebrate Spanish Television's 70 years and to be in The House of Music," pointed out his colleague Xabier San Martín.

The band will premiere their song from San Sebastián, but this special will also feature performances by Rosario Flores and Antonio and Josemi Carmona from El Pirulí; Nicki Nicole from Pedraza, in Segovia; Lola Índigo from La Alhambra in Granada; Ana Torroja, who will perform a song from the Reina Sofía Museum, and Amaia, who will perform at the Monastery of Iratxe in Navarra.

RTVE's president, José Pablo López, had already hinted that one more artist was yet to appear in this special before the year change, and yesterday it was confirmed that Shakira will finally be the international artist to close the lineup of soloists and groups. "Returning to Spanish Television is to reconnect with a part of my career and my history. So, see you to end the year on La 1, the House of Music," said the Colombian in a video broadcast on 'Directo al grano'.