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This was followed by a show by the Caribe Na Ma Review, written by Jose Antonio Molina (organizer of the annual Friends
of Pavarotti event in Italy), with musical arrangements by Manuel Tejada. Caribe Na Ma, according to the review in Hoy
newspaper, “exceeded all expectations.” The newspaper described the event as a “sound, costume and choreographic
extravaganza,” which delighted the public with a medley of salsa, merengue, bachata and carnival music.
The recently refurbished and extended Osvaldo Brugal Hall of the Sociedad Cultural Renovacion hosted several concerts.
Among these was a recital by German pianist Orrum Grahe, violinist Mathias Neundorf and cellist Christof Neundorf
in the presence of German Ambassador Kart Kohler and famous Dominican composer and Puerto Plata native Rafael
Solano. Renovacion also hosted a performance by Austrian pianist Kart Leutgeb, who played Austrian classical and
popular music for the capacity Puerto Plata audience.
On Wednesday, 8 June, the Central Park was at its best for a performance by legendary vocalist Maridalia Hernandez.
The singer performed several songs from her time with Juan Luis Guerra’s 4 x 40 group, as well as from her solo CDs,
accompanied by maestro Jorge Taveras and the Playa Dorada orchestra. The singer dedicated her version of a song by
famous Canadian Celine Dion to the Canadian Ambassador Adam Blackwell and his wife Caroline who were present.
The presentation was sponsored by the Canadian Embassy whose ambassador spoke movingly about how he would
have liked to bring Dion to the event, but instead had the idea of asking Maridalia, whom he considers to be her
Dominican counterpart, to perform a song by Celine Dion for the enjoyment of the public.
The event marked Ambassador Adam Blackwell’s farewell, after a successful three-year term strengthening trade and
cultural relations between Canada and the DR. Ambassador Blackwell said that he had been captivated by Puerto
Plata on his first visit, and through his efforts was able to secure a donation from the Canadian government to begin
the first strategic development plan for the area, which is currently underway.
In the evening of Thursday, 9 June, as described by journalist Manuel Gilbert in Puerto Plata’s El Faro newspaper,
“the event was filled with red-hot emotions that made the insatiable and tireless public pulsate, so much so that after
midnight they had to be told, “That’s enough, go home to sleep, tomorrow we have to work.”
The evening began with a performance by Cuban trio Alter Ego followed by music by Uruguayan and Guatemalan
singers Martin Regueiro and David Avalos, concluding with a very attractive fashion show of typical Guatemalan
national costumes. “The people sang, danced, made waves and went nuts to the spell cast by the Guatemalan singer
who first did not create many expectations but as the evening progressed he won over the crowd’s hearts with his great
performance,” as described by Gilbert.
Friday, 10 June in the evening performances by Martin Regueiro and the British jazz duo Trevor Watts & Jamie Harris, as
well as the Ginga Brazil group and its capoeira group had to be suspended due to rain. However, Saturday’s presentations
made up for this. On Saturday 11, the British jazz duo warmed up the stage building up to the evening’s climax - a
Dominican music show, “Ripiando el Perico,” by Huchi Lora and Rafael Chaljub Mejia, with music by Rafaelito Roman.
The Listin Diario, in its review of the event, described it as “spectaular.” That same evening the Iberostar Costa Dorada
hosted a special dinner and concert by Patricia Pereyra for the ambassadors who had contributed to the success of
the event.
Expo Cultures of the World Puerto Plata 2005 closed in style, leaving all concerned with the conviction that it must be
repeated next year.
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