The Concert For The Americas
By Mahnuel Muñoz
Altos de Chavón is a Mediterranean-type town built in 1976 on the Chavón River, in La Romana, Dominican Republic. It was commissioned by the Italian Roberto Coppa and reproduces a medieval Italian city that to this day receives thousands of daily visits from tourists displaced from Punta Cana.
The Amphitheater is an iconic symbol of Altos de Chavón and was inaugurated on August 20, 1982 with the legendary “Concert for the Americas” with Frank Sinatra, Buddy Rich, the group Heart and Carlos Santana.
In 1982 Sinatra only traveled abroad twice to sing, in contrast to 1981 that was characterized by an intense international agenda.
When he stepped onto the stage of the Altos De Chavón Amphitheater to give one of the best concerts of his career, Frank had just given 77 concerts since January 7 in the United States, a truly demanding schedule for a 66-year-old artist. age. And he doesn’t show the slightest bit of fatigue, on the contrary, he overflows with energy and qualities. He sings accompanied by an orchestra directed by Vincent Falcone Jr., without a string section, which gives a more jazzy sound than usual and that at times is reminiscent of the legendary recitals with Count Basie.
Charles Bluhdorn, owner of Altos de Chavón and Paramount Pictures, had Paramount record the concert so it could be broadcast around the world. Video recordings of the Frank Sinatra and Buddy Rich show and Heart’s performance were later commercially released.
Audio of Sinatra’s concert was included on the 2016 “World On A String” box set.
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