National Symphony Orchestra long time mentor, conductor and director, 77 year old Maestro Carlos Piantini won the El Soberano, the most coveted of awards last night during the Casandra Awards ceremony. The Casandra Awards honored 30 categories of the best in Dominican performing arts and show business at the grand gala at the National Theater. The evening also honored grass roots Bachata music, and “bachatero” Frank Reyes received five awards. Freddy Ginebra and Zoe Saldana (of The Terminal fame) were the hosts for the evening. The show is sponsored every year by Presidente beer (Cerveceria Nacional Dominicana) and was produced this year by playwright Wady Jaquez.
The winners were:
Classics & Theater:
Best Actor of the Year: Victor Pinales, Gato Negro
Best Actress of the Year: Aidita Selman, Tocalo otra vez
Best Theater Director: Enrique Chao
Best Drama Production: Gato Negro (Giovanny Cruz)
Best Children’s Play: La Casa de la Muneca
Dance, Music and Shows:
Best Classical Dancer: Victor Ramirez
Best Classical/Modern Choreographer: Carlos Veitia
Best Classical/Modern Performance: Evita
Best Popular Show Choreographer: Isadora Bruno
Best Folklore Ballet: Ballet Folklorico Centro de la Cultura, Santiago
Best Classical Vocal: Fausto Cepeda
Most Outstanding Dominican Artist Abroad: Juan Luis Guerra
Best Popular Group Abroad: Aventura
Best Merengue Orchestra: El Jeffrey
Best Salsa Musician: Sex Appeal
Best Pop Rock 2004: Al-Jadaqui
Best Contemporary Religious Music: Alfarero
Best Orchestration and Musical Arranger: Ramon Orlando
Best Songwriter: Martin de Leon (for the bachata Quien eres tu and the merengue Para siempre)
Best Music CD: Cuando se quiere se puede (Frank Reyes
Merengue of the Year: Las avispas (Juan Luis Guerra, composer, performer)
Bachata of the Year: Quien eres tu (Frank Reyes)
Concert of the Year: El Duelo (Milly and Sergio Vargas, a production of Monika Despradel, Jose Antonio Rodriguez and Pedro Nunez)
Best Show: La Gran Aventura de la Bachata (Aventura, produced by Wadys Jaquez)
Best Vocals: Claudio Piantini
Best Bachata Performer: Frank Reyes
Best Grassroots Music Group: Krisspy
Television & Radio:
Best Investigative Journalism or Special Program: El Informe con Alicia Ortega (CDN and Antena Latina)
Best Daily Variety TV program: Chevere Night (Telesistema)
Best Weekly Variety TV Program: Divertido con Jochy (Telesistema)
Best Variety Show: Con Jatnna (Color Vision)
Best Children’s TV program: Saltarin y Gasparin (Televida)
Best Youth TV Program: Iandra Full (Teleantillas)
Best Comedy Program: Tirimundati
Best Comedian: Luis Jose German (Con Freddy y Punto)
Best Radio Broadcaster: Victor Gomez Casanova
Best Presenter: Milagros German
Best TV Special: Jimani: El mismo dia de la tragedia (Carlos Julio Feliz)
Best Music Video: Hechicera (Alberto Zayas-Ciudad de Angeles)
Best Dominican Film Production: Negocios son negocios (Esteban Martin)