By: Cecile Scriban
Los Mangos Library
Puerto Vallarta, JaliscoAnd so, even as our New Year's resolution, hopes, goals and aspirations are being made, yes,
the last festive event much talked about by then - the Gala Concert on December 27th
at the Sheraton Buganvillas was the icing on last year's cake !
And what a turn-out it was... all the beautiful people of Banderas Bay, there they were - intellectuals, artists and music lovers, the glamorous and the sophisticated - such an animated sea of warm smiles and friendly hugs sipping wine, excitement and anticipation tangible in the air mingling around the elegantly decorated cocktail lobby... greenery, flowers, sculptures, candles, hushed lighting.. !
Then "en punto" it was showtime ! - from Anibal Cruz' cascading brilliant passages of Liszt's virtuosic Prelude No. 1 from 12 Transcendendal etudes , Rachmaninoff's dramatic and sonorous Prelude Op 3 #2 (also known as "The Bells of Moscow"), and Chopin's equally sparkling Etude in D flat, Op. 10 - to the evocative strains of Piazolla's tango and Villa Lobos' works divinely rendered from Irisley Luis' lyrical guitar,and Mauro Giuliani's stately Concierto #1, Op. 10 for piano and guitar, the first part of the concert wrapped up with a handful of groovy 'Danzas Cubanas' tunes like La Cumparsita on solo trumpet, which resounded clear and gutsy from among the audience before emerging full-throated onto the stage, just to round off with a playful catchy four-hand piano duet ditty by the husband and wife team - Anibal and Irisley - to prolonged applauses from an enchanted audience.
Jazz and Cuban love songs delectably filled the second part of this musical soirée, commencing appropriately with J.S Bach's "Awake! a voice is calling us" a chorale cantata. And of course,Anibal played the theme intermixing with it his own jazz improvisations with such convincing sass and swing on his electric keyboard that even Bach would have really delighted in it himself !
Gershwin's beloved "Summertime" followed. Again with our gifted pianist's arrangement on keyboard, conga and double bass, it was balmy summer revisited all over again..."a la cubana" this time! Similarly Anibal Cruz Sr.'s suave vocal rendition of "What A Wonderful World " was as refreshing as uplifting... just as it felt like that as well for the last song in the finale with "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" which seeming saved it's final high note of hope for our upcoming new year....
The only contrasting number in this second segment other than Anibal's closing number which promptly brought everyone onto their feet with his passionate and fiery keyboard improvisations of Aldo López Gavilán's arrangement of "Campanero" ( Frére Jacques) was the romantic "Estampa de la Canción Cubana" (medley of Cuban songs), which, fondly 
reminiscent of the "Buena Vista Social Club",had the entire talented Cruz family lulling us back to the nostalgic heydays of Havana. Such classical gems as "Veinte Años", "Y Tu Que Has Hecho", "Dos Gardenias", "Silencio"... from Maria Teresa Vera, Eusebio Delfin, Isolina Cariillo and Rafael Hernandez, on keyboard, bass,maracas,conga accompaniment came complete with corresponding images evoking that era from the nearby overhead screen.
And thus, on that magical starry and crisp moonlit night concluded one of Vallarta´s most wonderful event of the season.... so joyfully and successfully as continuous applauses 
and ovations from our enraptured crowd, along with appreciative "thank you's", enthusiastic praises and autograph signing went on...
Miles Gracias, dear audience! it is most of all due to you all and your Invaluable support for our unique Los Mangos Library that we wish to thank you heartily and for making this wonderful concert such a great success !
Joyous 2013 to you all!
[readon1 url="http://www.vallartatoday.com"]Source:www.vallartatoday.com-Courtesy of Ms Cecile Scriban[/readon1]
