Sunday Concert Jan 20th……The Romancio Latino Ventura Quartet

Still trying to catch up my blog posts.  I am coping but it is slow and requires more data. Another few days and I should become current.  I could explain the whole painful process but in the end the issue is that Google has placed a stumbling block in the way of Open Live Writer’s ability to post pictures.  I am not alone in this predicament. 

We are seated and the audience is starting to file in for the performance. 

Now how did we get this picture.  Well…we bumped into Colin and Contessa who were seated below us in the center seats.  Contessa is a well know RVing blogger who winters with her husband Colin on Stone Island (Isla de Piedra).  We have become blogging friends over the past few years.  She offered to take a picture of us both….thank-you!

There they are seated in the center of the photo.  Colin is a renowned photographer and accomplished guitarist as well.  He travels to Culiacan each winter to play with other talented guitarists and this year Contessa will go with him.  That would be something to sit in and listen to!  They both know some of today’s performers. 

It’s not a full house but it’s pretty darn close.

I’ll bet you wonder why it’s called a quartet when there are five people.  Well  the young lady in the middle has been invited to join and sometimes they are a quintet. 

Gordon explained how talented this group is and also that they are travelling to Europe this year to play there.  We heard about the history of the group and also a description of the music that they perform.  

We start off with the quartet…from the left and I hope I get this right Marco Vinicio, Mario Velarde, Alfonso Bernal and the lead singer and director Leoncio Bernal Amador. 

Alfonso and Leoncio.  Leoncio  has a very strong and beautiful voice.

And now they are five!  They are joined by Xenia Beltran Najera.   During her first number we were treated to her amazing vocal range.  Should she really let her voice go I think the walls would shake!

Mario on solo.

Each number was introduced in Spanish and then Marco translated into English.  I believe they all have some ability to speak English and it was obvious how much they were enjoying themselves as they joked back and forth.

A little friendly teasing before the next number.

You can see how lovely Xenia is.

I believe this is the final number and Xenia singing was absolutely amazing.  A fine addition to the “ quartet!”
There was a very long standing ovation which was rewarded with a final number.  One of the performers turned his cell phone to the audience to take a picture of our very warm and loud applause. 
It was and absolutely enjoyable performance and I hope we get to see them again. 

Walking down the street to Eric’s favorite restaurant Marisco’s Chon and you can see the beautiful steeple on the house that is being renovated right across the street.

Mazatlan in the early days.  The restaurant was opened in 1949 so this is probably from that time period….the year I was born!

Lots of memorabilia on the walls.

When we arrived the music was playing and look at what it was.  Too funny.  No other gringos in the place at the time so this must be their choice. 

I decided to try tuna for lunch today but got a surprise when it arrived.  It didn’t say “ mixto” but it was. 

Eric thought it might be canned tuna but I believe it was fresh combined with pickled peppers and carrots, fresh cooked carrots and potatoes in a dressing.  I thought it was quite good but it was not Eric’s cup of tea!
So….another successful outing and this coming Sunday is Corky Siegal and his Chamber Blues Ensemble and it will be a winner as well.  That said I don’t think you would ever attend one of these concerts and be disappointed. 

Oh I forgot the flan.  It was vanilla and it was just delicious!