Hugo Chávez Suspended Alejandro Sanz's Concert in Caracas - But There's Hope, Apparently

Filed in archive Latin Issues , Latin Music , Latin News on October 9, 2007

Venezuelan government (A.K.A. Hugo Chávez) has suspended Alejandro Sanz's concert in Caracas, scheduled to November 1st, arguing structural problems of the "Poliedro de Caracas", where the show would supposedly take place. The Poliedro is under governmental management since September 4, by Presidential decree.

The minister of Education, Luis Acuña, explained in an official notice that the decisions made about the "dome's schedule respond to the need of security for the public, and to the required pause to form and activate the new organization which will govern the Poliedro's destiny". Of course.

The press has said that while Sanz's show wasn't authorized, other concerts scheduled between October and December received green light. It's been also said that the Venezuelan government (yes, A.K.A. Hugo Chávez) suspended Sanz's concert in retaliation to Alejandro's declarations in February 2004, during his previous visit to Venezuela.

Alejandro said: "I don't like President Chávez, I don't like presidents of other countries either, and I don't think my president has done a good job either."

"I don't come here to make a revolution, I came to sing. But if I could write a song to the country, it would be named 'three million signatures'. If they gather that much in order to make me stop singing, I would stop" he said, ironically referring to a petition that was being promoted by the government's opposition at the time, calling for a referendum against Chávez.

Sanz's declarations were taken as a challenge by Chávez's followers, who initiated a "virtual collection" of signatures in a Website, which only obtained 230,000 signatures.

But Evenpro, the company that is organizing Alejandro Sanz's concert in Caracas, said today to the newspaper El Universal they are confident this "impasse" with the Venezuelan government will be surpassed. A declaration given by the company says the show "has not been suspended" and they are talking with the Ministry of Education to maintain the Poliedro as the place of the event.

"The company certifies that all the necessary procedures have been made, in order to the presentation of Alejandro Sanz to take place at the polyhedron of Caracas. In case the Poliedro is definitively not available at the scheduled date, Evenpro will consider another space which assures appropriated conditions for the public and the spectacle", indicated the official notice.

Evenpro's vice president, Julio Tricio declared: "I see authorizations have been given for a few days after this event. So I don't know the reasons why they are specifically canceling only Sanz's concert". Take a guess, Julio! Or, even better: ask Hugo Chávez if he knows anything about this!

According to Venezuelan news media, tickets for Alejandro Sanz's concert in Caracas, with "El Tren de los Momentos" tour, went on sell on August 15, and the show is already sold out. But it's possible that nobody will see the show in Caracas, just because Sanz's said he doesn't like Chávez. After all, who cares about the people, or about what the people want?

Chávez certainly doesn't.