As part of Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia there is a program for three nights at Theatro Griego Frank Romerio Day. Friday there is a program called Constelación del Vino and the crowning of the queen of the festival. Sunday has the same program followed by folk music, and Monday repeats, changing from folk to rock.
We were happy to snag some seats to the Sunday night show by going through a local tourist company. For 500 peso's per person ($25 USD) we get tickets and transportation. Per the brochure the show will begin at 8pm. We are instructed to meet the tour bus at 6:30pm at a hotel a few blocks from Plaza Italia. Our landlady's daughter has suggested that we bring something to eat and drink as the lines for food can be quite long, so in the afternoon I packed a picnic. At 6:15pm we are at the hotel. Of course, the bus does not arrive until 7:15pm. :-)
By 8pm we are in seats four and five in the fourth row, center right. Perfect! If only it wasn't for the fact the seats are concrete benches - oh well.
We were happy to snag some seats to the Sunday night show by going through a local tourist company. For 500 peso's per person ($25 USD) we get tickets and transportation. Per the brochure the show will begin at 8pm. We are instructed to meet the tour bus at 6:30pm at a hotel a few blocks from Plaza Italia. Our landlady's daughter has suggested that we bring something to eat and drink as the lines for food can be quite long, so in the afternoon I packed a picnic. At 6:15pm we are at the hotel. Of course, the bus does not arrive until 7:15pm. :-)
By 8pm we are in seats four and five in the fourth row, center right. Perfect! If only it wasn't for the fact the seats are concrete benches - oh well.
The show starts at 8:30pm with three master of ceremonies talking a lot and running a raffle to warm up the crowd. At 9:00 the Constelación del Vino starts. OMG - this is a 12 act program with easily 400 people that tells the history of Argentina and Mendoza. It is amazing fast-action music and dance for two solid hours. At the completion of the program every performer walks the extended stage a few feet in front of us. They are six to eight people deep and it takes a half an hour for everyone to pass by. Many are looking for their friends and family in the audience.
In the interim the upper stage is setup for a short act of guitar players and the main stage is setup for a full orchestra. After the short act the orchestra is seated and is joined by the folk singer, Soledad Pastorutti. She is a crowd favorite, and we soon learn why. She has a beautiful voice and made Argentine folk music popular during the past 15 years.
In the interim the upper stage is setup for a short act of guitar players and the main stage is setup for a full orchestra. After the short act the orchestra is seated and is joined by the folk singer, Soledad Pastorutti. She is a crowd favorite, and we soon learn why. She has a beautiful voice and made Argentine folk music popular during the past 15 years.
After Soledad and the Mendoza Orchestra complete their act the stage is modified again. A portion of the orchestra returns to back up the singers Juan Carlos Baglietto y Jairo. Though not a completely fair comparison, William and I conclude that they may be Argentina's version of Simon and Garfunkle.
Of course toward the end of their act Soledad is brought back on stage as well as the guitarists for a couple of well-loved songs. Three-fourth of the seats are still filled. The crowd that remains sings along, and we can feel a national pride.
By now it is 2am. The show probably would have gone longer but there has been a threat of rain and the producers did not listen to the calls for encores.
We make our way back to the bus which delivers us to the hotel at 2:30am. The coordinator suggests that we could have the hotel call a taxi for us if we are tired, but we decide to walk home. As we walk along Arístides Villanueva several of the restaurants and bars are just closing up. There are still people finishing the last of their drinks and food. We get home around 3am, tired but extremely happy.
Of course toward the end of their act Soledad is brought back on stage as well as the guitarists for a couple of well-loved songs. Three-fourth of the seats are still filled. The crowd that remains sings along, and we can feel a national pride.
By now it is 2am. The show probably would have gone longer but there has been a threat of rain and the producers did not listen to the calls for encores.
We make our way back to the bus which delivers us to the hotel at 2:30am. The coordinator suggests that we could have the hotel call a taxi for us if we are tired, but we decide to walk home. As we walk along Arístides Villanueva several of the restaurants and bars are just closing up. There are still people finishing the last of their drinks and food. We get home around 3am, tired but extremely happy.
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