No Spanish Pop for Venezuela

This article came over the wire from the Associated Press. I think it’s important that a popular newspaper from El Salvador, El Diario de Hoy, picked up the piece. In many ways, Latin Americans are looking to see how Venezuela negotiates a new political and economic role in world politics. Some may remember how the Spanish King Juan Carlos rebuked Chávez, telling him to “shut up” at a regional conference in Chile. Here, the Venezuela government blocks a popular/pop Spanish singer-songwriter from performing in Caracas.

From: http://www.elsalvador.com/El Diario de Hoy, El Salvador



For the Second Time:The Venezuelan Government Cancels Sanz Concert
Caracas/AP

Thursday, February 7, 2008

The Chávez regime cancelled Sanz’ November show and declared the Spanish singer persona non grata in Venezuela.

The Alejandro Sanz concert, scheduled for February 14 in Caracas, was again suspended, following canceling his November show. The Venezuela government declared the Spanish singer-songwriter persona non grata, a result of Sanz stating three years ago that “he did not like” current president Hugo Chávez.

The event organizing body, Evenpro, said online Thursday that the show was canceled “for not reaching desired standards.”

The show, part of Sanz’ “Train of Memories,” was going to happen in Poliedro de Caracas, a concert stadium holding 15,000 people, with tickets sold out from last November.

“I want to sing in Venezuela, even if that means in the street,” Sanz said this week on a Dominican website.

The Minister of Higher Education and administrator of the Poliedra, Luis Acuña, did not return AP [Associated Press] phone calls, as neither did the Sanz’ label, Warner Music Latina, or his manager in Miami.

In 2004, after being questioned about the Venezuelan leader six months before a referendum intended to remove Chávez from power, Sanz remarked in jovial terms, “I don’t like him [Chávez]. Nor do I like other presidents, including mine (the Spanish José María Aznar). It seems like they’ve done well [to try and remove these presidents].”

Sanz had advertised for his November concert in the Venezuelan capital, yet at the last minute he canceled the show when the government denied permission to use El Poliedro.

Evenpro failed to find another venue for the madrileño [person from Madrid].



All errors and interpretations mine.