Puerto Rico’s love story with Ricky Martin

The concert with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra showed once again that the bond of love that the people of Puerto Rico have with one of its greatest international artists is indissoluble

Ricky Martin Sinfónico concert (Photo bySRC)

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There’s no place like home, goes the saying, and that was proven once again when the people of Puerto Rico poured their hearts out in love with the international star who came back to sing at home, Ricky Martin. For more than two and a half hours, thousands of people packed the Coliseum de Puerto Rico to sing and dance non-stop to each and every one of the songs that the singer sang together with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, demonstrating that this love story between the people and the artist is indissoluble.

As one of the most anticipated concerts of the summer, there was not an empty chair from corner to corner in the Coliseum, that was packed with people from different generations. Mothers and children, grandparents, teens, and many elders, but the vast majority in the public were contemporaries with the singer. People who, since they grew up with Ricky Martin, knew all his songs and sang them.

This concert was different, among many others Martin has performed in his homeland throughout his life. This time, he was accompanied by one of the best orchestras in all Latin America, the great Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, and this was noted in the depth of the melodies, the impeccable sound, the diversity of rhythms, and the acoustics. The 70 virtuoso symphonic musicians were directed by maestro Ángel “Cucco” Peña, and with them were seven other musicians from the band that usually accompanies Martin, directed by maestro David Cabrera.

As soon as he began to sing "Pégate", the public started shouting and, in turn, you could tell that Ricky Martin was excited. On several occasions, he had to stop singing to compose himself and be able to continue because the people were euphoric. Each song was accompanied by images and light designs that increased the expectations in the public, setting the scene for each theme.

The crowd continued singing hits like “Volverás” and “Gracias por pensar en mi” with the Puerto Rican star, and they stood up to dance “La Bomba”, “Con tu nombre” and “Fuego de Noche, nieve de día”. A special mention deserves his interpretation of “Isla Bella”, because in addition to the beauty of its lyrics, composed by Beatriz Luengo, Omar Alfano, and Yotuel Romero, different images of Puerto Rico were presented. Rincón, the beach, Old San Juan, the fields, and other points were creating the atmosphere, and while Martin sang, he was visibly moved.

The arrangements of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra continued to lead to a masterful night that followed with songs like "Disparo Al Corazón", "Casi Un Bolero" and a monumental medley that included "Vuelo", "El Amor de mi Vida” and “Te Extraño” in which people wouldn’t stop singing or recording with their cell phones that seemed like fireflies flooding the entire space.

With his characteristic scenic mastery, the artist gave the audience moments full of feeling that garnered him multiple standing ovations and expressions of love and solidarity. When he sang “Asignatura” and “Vuelve” the depth and interpretative maturity of the singer could be noticed, as well as the combination of the songs in symphonic arrangements.

The rhythm made the audience vibrate when they sang hits like "Lola", "María", "La Mordidita", "Por Arriba", "Living La Vida Loca", "Vente Pa'Aca" and the hymn that the world has sung "La Copa de la Vida”, in what was one of the greatest moments of the night.

People asked for "other, other" and they did not stop applauding, to which the singer thanked them by greeting them and sending kisses. Near the end of the concert, when he introduced Peña and other musicians, Martin took the opportunity to greet people from other countries who were also at the concert. He knew this because the fans displayed the flags of the United States, Chile, Venezuela, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico, among others.

As he usually does at his concerts, Martin had several costume changes, but in all of them, he wore comfortable clothes that allowed him the movements and dances to which the public is accustomed. He danced so much that he seemed to be the same Ricky Martin of 20 years ago, only now he's in his fifties and a father, and he even waved at his children who were in the audience.

One of the best moments of the concert "Ricky Martin Sinfónico" was at the end, when noticing the emotion that was palpable between the public and the musicians. The singer performed “Tal Vez” and “Tu Recuerdo” before a standing audience that did not stop dancing. Ricky Martin exceeded all expectations at this concert.

Perhaps because he was joined by the Symphony Orchestra and the public that appreciates it so much, or perhaps it was because the Puerto Rican public had been waiting for this event for a long time, but this concert Ricky Martin Symphonic, without a doubt, will go down to the annals of history as one of the best that this artist has produced in his native country, Puerto Rico.