Effie Makes A Quick Return To Town
Yesterday, Vallarta received such a gift from Francesca Bavaro/Effie Passero at La Catrina Cantina. In the past five years, we have anxiously awaited her return from wherever, following her updates on Facebook, which we would check day by day and sometimes for months on end.
She returned from this latest journey to Mykynos in Greece a changed woman. Of course, she brought the pieces of her broken heart back with her to Vallarta for the light here to heal her before she is off again in a week.
Her voice has never been better, and she was radiant in her hot pink tulle dress and killer, sparkly pumps that didn’t stay on her feet for the entire concert. Her song choices spanned the entire Broadway spectrum, including a couple she had never sung publicly before. Streisand, Minnelli, the Phantom of the Opera, it didn’t matter. Her voice is getting more and more color in it – maybe because she’s growing older, like everybody else. Whatever it is, I love it, and would have happily listened all night to the new riches in her voice, but nearly 90 minutes is too long for anybody’s vocal chords. I hope she rests today with our hearts full of gratitude for such a brilliant concert.
Her happiness at being home with her community spilled over as she invited Vallarta’s youngest star, Angeloo to the stage to sing a solo. Owner of La CC, Juan Alvarado, took the mic and explained to the packed house that Angeloo had made it to the finals in Voz de Zapopan, encouraging his patrons to tip generously to help defray the costs of going back and forth to Guadalajara. (The final is on September 27.)
Angeloo brought the house down with Diva Dance from the science fiction movie The Fifth Element. It should become his signature song. The standing ovation rolled into a duet of Shallow with Francesca. The two voices played back and forth to an astonishing finale. It was the first song they ever performed together; although there have not been many, it was a good choice for a duet, and again, Francesca let Angeloo take the lead.
Her kindness to this gifted young man will come back tenfold; it was her concert, her time to shine before she is back on the road again in mere days, and she certainly did not have to share her stage with anyone. Angeloo earned a bit more money towards his future, and Francesca became even more adored by all of us, if that’s even possible!
Wherever you go, Francesca, know you are loved. We’ll wait for you to come home.