No one who attended the mega concert at Altos de Chav?n Saturday evening was disappointed. The concert was an usual return to stage of Juan Lu?s Guerra after four years of absence, and the appearance in one night of stars of the quality of Gloria Estefan and Shakira, Carlos Ponce, Carlos Vives, Jon Secada, Angela Carrasco. Jos? Antonio Molina, the Dominican Republic’s most outstanding music conductor, opened the evening with two pieces performed by the National Symphony Orchestra reinforced with the Miami Sound Machine band. Sammy Sosa, the National League’s record-breaking home runner and MVP, introduced Juan Luis Guerra and his "4-40" group that sang "Guabaverry," (which is a tribute to San Pedro de Macor?s, one of the most damaged areas by Hurricane Georges), "A pedir su mano", "La Bilirrubina" and "Ojal? que llueva caf?" with a variation in the lyrics to honor La Romana that also suffered devastation by Hurricane Georges… "Pa que en La Romana no se sufra tanto. Ojal? que llueva caf? en el campo". Guerra closed with the performance of "Mi PC," a new track from his new CD that will be launched formally on Wednesday at the Hotel Santo Domingo. The new CD, even prior to its formal launching, is tops in the Latin Hits chart of Billboard magazine.Colombian Carlos Vives was next with his songs, "De ah? vengo yo," "La tierra del olvido" and "Tengo Fe." Angela Carrasco followed with her hits: "Lo quiero a morir," "Mar?a del Mar, "Si t? eres mi hombre y yo tu mujer." Puerto Rican Carlos Ponce then interpreted: "Rezo," "Decir adios" and "Quisiera volver."One of the surprises of the evening was the on stage performance of new merengue sensation Chich? Peralta, with Emilio Estefan and Jose?to Mateo performing "El negrito del batey," and "Palo Bonito," with Jose?to Mateo, a legend of Dominican merengue, singing. The dance was so inspiring, Sammy Sosa danced with his wife Sonia. The crowds went wild when Colombian youth star Shakira took to the stage and performed: "Ciega , sordomuda, "T?," "Estoy aqu?." Until the next performer, Jon Secada, sang his all time favorite, "Otro d?a m?s sin verte," he didn’t get the public to his side. Gloria Estefan was last performing "Mi tierra," to a standing crowd. Next she performed, "Los a?os que me quedan", and "Llegan nuevos tiempos" which she dedicated to her cook Miriam Pe?a, a Dominican. Gloria Estefan closed the evening with the performance of "Por amor," in duo with Jon Secada. All previous performers joined in for the end of the song and stayed to together perform, "Reach," the song she sang for the 1996 Atlantic Olympics.
