March 20th!

March 20th!... Yes, it’s an important date for me, but not always, only for the past two years, since I sang on stage outside my home country for the first time... The video I’m sharing with you today is from that moment: Robert Pearsall’s “Tu Es Petrus,” the song we chose for our impromptu performance at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican a few months ago. It was the third song we sang that day at the Badajoz Conference Center in Spain. The initial jitters caused by the audience’s reaction had already passed, and we had already gotten to know the hall and its secrets; I think that’s why I feel that this third piece was the most memorable moment for me from the start of my first time singing in another country.

This post picks up right where yesterday’s post left off, with that last photo of my wife and me in Madrid, before we set off for the Autonomous Community of Extremadura. I remember that on our road trip we got very close to the border with Portugal; we even stopped to take some pictures—it was all about taking pictures back then 😅 The choir members were very happy, because after emigrating, most of us had never left Venezuela before.

Arriving in Badajoz marked the third day of our adventure in Spain, but that night would be our first concert. I remember it was the area we got to know the least; some of us were already tired from so many nights out in Madrid, and I was a little tired too, but for me there were no limits, and I was ready to explore as much as I could. That day we stayed at the Hotel Ilunion Golf, which I think was one of the most beautiful hotels we encountered on our entire concert tour. It was in a very secluded spot, so the best thing to do was enjoy the hotel’s own facilities, since we only had time to eat and make music; the next morning we had to head to another city far away.

I remember that the concert hall was an impressive and very special place; in fact, ever since I found out we’d be traveling to Spain, the only place where I was really interested in performing was the Palacio de Congresos in Badajoz, and its architecture and design really spoke to me through digital images. Like many other venues, the acoustics made our time in this city truly magical. The lights in the hall make everything look impressive and create a great show for the audience, although from the stage it doesn’t look the way I imagined it would, since the black background of the curtains apparently looks good from a distance... After all, it was a unique moment for me, a first time for which I continue to thank God every day, because since that day many good things have come our way as artists 🙏

Yes, that March 20th changed my life, my perspective on things, and between you and me, maybe I even started taking my career more seriously—not that I didn’t before, but my love for choral music and opera singing made me feel a greater sense of responsibility, because I realized it wasn’t just about me anymore, in my hands, and in those of my colleagues—we had the responsibility to represent a country, a country that hasn’t had the best reputation in recent years, so we had to give our best and demonstrate the true essence of Venezuela—that is, its people, who truly enjoy and suffer the consequences of those who play at being world leaders. I am an eternal dreamer, but I am happy to say that my dreams do not remain just dreams; I have worked toward them for many years, and I do not know how long God will allow me to enjoy them, but the energy of that March 20th has stayed with me forever... I always feel like that first time ❤️