Tonight (Sunday, Feb. 25) is the kick-off of Latin music’s longest-running and most-watched music competition. Greater than 200 million persons are anticipated to look at the tv broadcast of the Viña del Mar Music Pageant, which celebrates its 63rd yr (uninterrupted, save for 2 years of Covid-19 shutdown) with performances by international music stars.
Alejandro Sanz and Manuel Turizo will open the competition on the Quinta Vergara Amphitheater tonight. Then, the week continues with Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo Bocelli on Monday, Feb. 26 (with Miranda! because the second act); Maná and Males at Work on Feb. 27; Mora and Anitta on Feb. 29; an evening dedicated to Chilean artists with Los Bunkers and Younger Cister on March 1; and for the finale on Feb. 2, Maria Becerra, who took the place of Peso Pluma after the Mexican artist canceled his Latin American tour final week. Trueno would be the second artist of the night time.
Though the artists, worldwide and folks competitions, and comedy units are the principle attraction of the competition, the spine is its hosts. Chileans María Luisa Godoy — who returns for the fourth consecutive yr — and Francisco Saavedra, have the titanic activity of actually “conducting” the competition six nights in a row, in marathon six-hour plus evenings. Saavedra and Godoy, each veteran journalists, presenters and commentators, not solely host and introduce all through the night, however they need to navigate the subtleties of many artists (and new artists who come to compete), comedians and the stay viewers at Quinta Vergara, generally known as “the monster” for his or her lively involvement in what occurs on the stage.
This yr, Godoy and Saavedra even have an extra problem, as the town of Viña del Mar was severely affected at first of the month by fires that left greater than 120 individuals lifeless and greater than 15,000 houses destroyed.
Simply hours earlier than they go on stage, we spoke with Godoy and Saavedra about what it takes to organize to host the most important competition on the earth.
The Viña del Mar Music Pageant has been celebrated for nearly 70 years. What’s totally different this yr?
Francisco Saavedra: It’s totally different as a result of a tragedy occurred in Viña del Mar, greater than 100 individuals died and there are lots of locations which can be badly broken. Due to this fact, the competition took on a supportive tone. All through our broadcast, a QR code shall be displayed from the place everybody can donate for the reconstruction of Viña del Mar.
María Luisa Godoy: It’s a wounded metropolis, and we wish all of Latin America to assist us on this reconstruction. Due to this fact, the greater than 200 million individuals who watch the Viña Pageant hope that you’ll collaborate with us. On the amphitheater we’ve a sales space for donations, and in addition, we intention to heal with music, with leisure.
How do these info change your work as hosts?
Saavedra: We’d been rehearsing for eight months, and we needed to change the tone of what we have been going to say. The artist introductions stay the identical, however empathy is what modifications the tone of the scripts. We needed to re-study.
Godoy: The primary night time is the large problem, as a result of it units the tone. A lot so, that we even modified the surface [Godoy will wear a white pantsuit, Saavedra will wear all black]. The competition has all the time began with a celebration, and the outfits have been flashier, however we’re hanging a extra sober observe out of respect.
This isn’t a standard internet hosting job. Actually everybody in Chile — practically 90% of the inhabitants –watches this present in some unspecified time in the future. How do you put together?
Saavedra: There’s purely editorial work. We had 18 rehearsals inisde a tv studio the place the producers gave us all types of prompts of what might occur: applause, booing, the teleprompter reducing out, delays. They wished to see our capability to improvise. You realize that the viewers in Viña del Mar could be very totally different from different international locations. They wish to take part, and so they’re very radical. In the event that they don’t like one thing, they’re ruthless. So one must be ready for that.
Godoy: It’s the largest competition on the earth. There are six nights, the place there are two artists who sing, plus the competitors, plus the comic. So it forces us to be taught the biography of every particular person with a purpose to current them in the very best manner. And a part of the identification of this competition is that it has the “monster.” And the monster could be very distinctive. It’s an viewers that may actually eat the artist who’s on stage.
In your three years on the Pageant, María Luisa, what second stands out?
Godoy: There was a very tough competition in 2020, through the nation’s interval of social unrest. They even put up barricades across the venue, and it was tough for artists to get there. The opening artists couldn’t come as a result of crowds have been setting automobiles on fireplace exterior the lodge and wouldn’t allow them to go. And I wish to let you know about Ricky Martin who saved the competition in 2020. Each night time, we weren’t certain if we’d have a present or not. When Ricky got here to the venue, he needed to lie down inside his SUV as a result of protesters have been throwing stones on the automobiles, not even understanding who was inside. Each worldwide artist began calling Ricky to ask what the scenario was. And Ricky, such a superb and beneficiant particular person, fully calmed everybody down, put them comfortable, and helped the competition happen.
Saavedra: The same factor that occurred with Alejandro Sanz this yr. He went to see a few of the individuals who misplaced their houses within the fires. It was very emotional.
Francisco, it’s your first yr. Did you lengthy to do that?
Saavedra: I feel it’s an important competition in Latin America, and for any Chilean tv host being in Viña is an important step in your profession. You’re seen by audiences from everywhere in the world. You cross borders. To stay as much as this we’ve been finding out and dealing. It’s a dream for me since I used to be little. Now having the ability to fulfill it excites me deeply.
María Luisa, and also you? How did the chance come to you?
Godoy: It was a shock as a result of my profession was in political journalism, so it was by no means one thing I believed I might do. It’s not the type of factor you may say no to as a result of it’s like carrying the Chilean T-shirt for the world. It has merely been an important factor that has occurred in my skilled profession.
You’re a mom of 5 youngsters. How do you steadiness such a fancy job with motherhood?
Godoy: As a mom, I can’t transfer with out my puppies. I’ve from 1-year-old to a 10-year-old and they’re all right here with me. What makes me most glad is being with them and combating for ladies. Ever since i hosted Viña whereas I used to be pregnant — there had by no means been a pregnant girl [as a host] — I all the time stated, my dream is to make sure that having youngsters will not be an obstacle to working, and that working will not be an obstacle to having youngsters for a lady who needs a toddler. It’s a must to break down obstacles. Motherhood will be made appropriate with work.
Pancho, you’re additionally breaking parameters as a homosexual man with two youngsters. Your infant is simply months previous…
Saavedra: Completely. My daughter Laura and my son Emilio and my husband are right here. It’s the first time, I imagine, in these 63 years that Viña del Mar has been, [that it] has had [an openly gay host] and it has to do with the evolution of the world and the way minds are opening. There’s plenty of homophobia on the earth. It is a nice step ahead. And the one factor I’ve acquired on the road is affection, love and empathy. Having the ability to do an interview and speak about my husband and my youngsters, and never increase an eyebrow, is a large step in the correct path.
The Viña del Mar Music Pageant will be seen exterior Chile on streaming platform Star+.
