In August of 2013,
Juan "El Divo de Juárez" Gabriel returned to el Palacio de Bellas Artes, one of Mexico's premier performing venues. In 1990, this was the site where he recorded his first major live retrospective with his own band,
Mariachi Arriba Juarez, and
the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional, as part of his 25th anniversary celebration. This concert was even larger in scope. Still riding the charts 40 years after his debut album,
Gabriel returned to the venerable hall accompanied by his friend, the great Romani Spanish singer
Isabel Pantoja, the International Orchestra of Arts and Choir, and his group Mariachi de Mi Tierra. Originally released as a three-disc audio and video package, Fonovisa decided to release the two audio discs individually. This first volume contains 19 tracks. While almost every track here is career highlight, there are some real standouts. The stirring rendition of "Mi Pueblito" and the stomping take on "Esta Noche Voy a Verla" are the first two, but they're closely matched by a nearly cinematic presentation of "No Discutamos," the rollicking, electric guitar burn on "Maria Jose," and the rootsy, early Rock en Español feel on "Insensible." ~ Thom Jurek