by Antonio Mejías-Rentas
Chavela Vargas
NONAG ERIAN: A web page and a tribute concert wi11 mark the 90th birthday of ranchera singer Chavela Vargas next month.
At the Mexico City concert — where famous admirers such as Joaquín Sabina, Miguel Bosé and Julieta Venegas are expected to perform—a web page detailing Vargas’ lengthy and fruitful career will be unveiled. Though in frail health, Vargas herself is also likely to perform.
Organizers have also invited two of the singer’s most prestigious friends: Nobel Laureate Gabriel García Márquez and Oscar-winning director Pedro Almodóvar.
Vargas was born Isabel Vargas Lizano in Costa Rica on April 17,1919. At 14 she fled her country and moved to Mexico, where she started singing in the streets before becoming a professional. Her coarse, deep voice was ideal for the Mexican rancheras, which she originally performed dressed as a man, and one of Mexico’s top composers, Jóse Alfredo Jiménez, became a friend and a mentor. She also befriended the country’s top artists and intellectuals, including Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Agustín Lara and Juan Rulfo.
She recorded more than 80 albums before retiring in the 1970s. In a 2002 autobiography she described a 15-year battle with alcoholism and revealed she was a lesbian.
Urged by Almodóvar, who used her songs in some of his films, Vargas returned to the stage in 1991 and in 2003 debuted at Carnegie Hall, a performance released a year later in CD.
The tribute is slated for April 21 at the Teatro de la Ciudad de México.
DOUBLECELEBRATION: A gala to mark the 125th anniversary of New York’s Metropolitan Opera on March 15 also celebrated tenor Plácido Domingo’s 40-year history with the company.
Mario Vargas Llosa
Domingo was among several stars who recreated famed performances with original sets and costumes at the country’s top opera house. The Spanish tenor perfomed several arias, including one performed by Enrico Caruso in the 1910world premiere of Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West.
Domingo made his Met debut in 1968 and has opened the company’s season 21 times, surpassing by four Caruso’s record.
ONE LINERS: Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa is among finalists for the Man Booker International literary prize, a cash award of $85,000 to be announced in May. Salma Hayek will play Adam Sandler’s wife in an untitled comedy about a 30-year high-school reunion, with a cast that also includes Chris Rock and David Spade. Film maker Anthony Felton has announced that his film Héctor Lavoe, The Singer is about to go into post-production for an expected September release. Hispanic Link.
