Our Own Little Broadway
One very good thing about living in Puerto Vallarta is the talent brought in by retired stars. Having been raised in Mexico City (where an actress proved to me that you could attend a new theatre play everyday, without ever repeating) and as an avid visitor to New York, when I first moved here I soon became worried about the dire cultural supply through-out the region. Back in 2000, when my family and I decided to leave the urban blight and enjoy more time and nature, I would open the newspapers to find only three movie theatres and a sporadic concert from a visiting orchestra, if at all. Adding to my worries was the poor kind of Spanish language my daughter Victoria, ―then learning to speak― was exposed to (“ira” instead of “mira”, “edá” instead of “verdad”). The cultural outlook seemed bilingually bleak. Then one morning things took a turn for the better.
Shortly after 9/11, the US Consulate under Kelly Trainor organized a memorial service on the malecón. I decided to attend. As the ceremony came to its end, there came this tall, blonde woman who led us into singing “Battle Hymn of the Republic”. The crowd became quickly emotional. It was not only the occasion, but her; she led with a feminine, beautiful and powerful voice. At the second chorus she started weaving this harmony on top of the melody we were all singing. Standing tall among all of us she directed with the most contagious energy and enthusiasm. This was they way I met Sharon B. White. After the singing I could not help but walk up to thank her- I highly valued the feelings she could extract. She suddenly asked: why don’t you take singing lessons? And this was the beginning of a trip with no end. Through Sharon I met her husband and my friend David White, a great violinist and singer. As I attended my weekly lesson, I met more and more talented individuals and groups they formed. I was invited to join a Christmas choir and I accepted happily, although as tired as I was from working hard at building my own house and studio in Nuevo Vallarta I would often fall asleep during breaks. Luckily for me the choir had one of its show venues cancelled, so I volunteered my place on the Nuevo Vallarta marina. The construction was unfinished, and women had to change outfits behind our piled-up furniture and boxes. However, the view of the channel and the weather were charming and the show went very well: this made the first edition of the now traditional Estudio-Café Christmas Concert.
As friendships multiplied, I was able to insert myself and my family in the cultural grapevine of our bay. At the Estudio we have been honored to host superb pianists Niina Venalainen and Joseph Gómez, flutist Dana Skow, Guitarist Rigoberto Mora, top quality groups like the Quesadivas, and various ensembles with musicians the likes Mary MacLachlan, who has now made Vallarta proud with its own Chamber Orchestra! Professional dancers Tommy and Nancy Patterson, top quality singers Lisa Schalla, Sandi Lee, Mikki Prost,Julietta Woodward, Susan Wichterman,Carmen Celina, Jill Fanning, Paloma (and many others, forgive me if I am forgetting someone), and even opera singer Uiok Chavez have also delighted us, not only singing in solos, but mixing with us aficionados, Sylvie Wolff, Jessica Singer, my daughter Victoria and myself.
There was this one time when Norma Schuh –founder of the Quesadivas- invited Victoria and me to participate in one of her shows at the Santa Barbara theatre on Olas Altas street; we of course accepted and went for a wonderful experience, the kind a little girl will never forget. One most memorable moment for myself came when after the show we went backstage and every good voice seemed to be there, celebrating... then someone whispered I had just turned older: unexpectedly they broke into so many beautiful voices: altos, sopranos, tenors and baritones, sing happy birthday to... me!!!
I just cannot imagine any other place where so many talented and generous friends can be made. Weather and nature are beautiful here in Vallarta, but talented friends are spectacular. So many exciting experiences to be grateful for! So much to share and enjoy in this community. If once I felt a cultural void, now it is filling. The American School has contributed much to the performing arts, both through their own students under the direction of Reneé Pérez and Liz Mason, as well as through musicians and singers who under their generous cover have found a place to get together and practice.
Talent keeps retiring in Vallarta and the quality and diversity continues to grow. Two years ago I got another invitation to join a Christmas choir –but this time I did not fall asleep- Enter Nick Salmans and in a few weeks he had us all singing Vivaldi’s Gloria!
The exhilarating feeling of singing beside Jim Monroy and other pros, achieving so much so soon, to then be accompanied by the Puerto Vallarta Chamber Orchestra, provided me with emotional fuel to inspire many an exuberant painting. Nick Salmans has become a friend of Mexico and its culture by incorporating and developing elements of our Mexican culture. Just last week at the Guadalupe Church downtown, he brought us all to tears with his Classicoral group, where he has gathered the more professional local voices, where we got acquainted with young baritone Alberto Montalvo. The program included beautiful songs in Spanish most of us had not ever heard.
Yes, I know we still have many limitations. Our town is begging for proper theatres – we can all witness to this as we hear airplanes landing on our music. Yes, yes, many of these foreign actors are aging...yet, a new bi-cultural generation is emerging; hopefully they will rescue their Mexican side while they build on what they are learning. Last week I heard Uiok, who is Korean, sing “Amorcito Corazón” at the University (CUC) and everybody went wild with gusto.Yes, yes, yes: we are far cry from Broadway: but there they wouldn’t ever let you sing with the stars.
Email to a friend. Federico León de la Vega
E-mail: fleondelavega@prodigy.net.mx
Feedback about this article
Author Note: This is a chapter of a book I am writing about my adventures as a painter artist.
The Federico León de la Vega Estudo – Café is open to the public and is located in Paseo de la Marina 31, Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit. Opening hours are Monday to Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sundays from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Previous Articles
Puerto Vallarta Photo Gallery
Riviera Nayarit Photo Gallery |
Current
Weather Report
