Mariachi USA Fest Opens With High 5

Although the prospect of a five-hour mariachi marathon might inspire claustrophobia in the uninitiated, there was nothing to fear about the masterfully designed ninth edition of Mariachi USA on Saturday at the Hollywood Bowl.

Variety was the name of the game, as five ensembles alternated at a furious pace with snippets of evocative folk dances and vintage film clips projected on a giant screen.

Multimedia elements notwithstanding, the bouncy, highly sentimental music of the mariachi tradition remained the focus throughout the evening--the first of the festival’s two nights at the Bowl.

Opening the night was the all-female Mariachi Las Adelitas, whose program included a medley of boleros and a poignant version of the classic “Cucurrucucu Paloma Blanca.” The group’s three singers mostly alternated on lead vocals, but the few times they harmonized added extra vibrancy to the music.

From the first notes of its trademark theme, Mariachi Imperial demonstrated superior instrumental prowess and a thunderous violin section. But the group showed a lack of tact with an imitation of singer Juan Gabriel that stressed the genial performer’s feminine manner.

Mariachi 2000 offered one of the evening’s high points: a red-hot, heart-wrenching medley of Javier Solis’ melancholy ballads. The eight violins served as a velvet backdrop for tunes such as “Te Amare Toda La Vida” and “Ojitos Traidores.”

When the mood switched to pop with “El Milagro De Tus Ojos” (complete with staccato horns and “la-la-la” choruses), the music had the same ability as the old film clips to transport the listener to a bygone era of idealism and innocence.

If Mariachi 2000 was overall the strongest ensemble, Mariachi Las Alondras was a stunning revelation. A recently formed Los Angeles outfit made up exclusively of women, Las Alondras gives the genre a much-needed transfusion of new blood. Its 12 members’ vocal power and buoyant energy had the audience singing along on classics such as “Tu Solo Tu” and “Canta Canta.”

The Miami-based Mariachi Cobre closed the evening with an energetic performance that culminated with Agustin Lara’s “Granada.” Then it was time for the audience sing-along and the overwhelming sight of all the orchestras performing together accompanied by a fireworks display.

As the emcee for the night, the festival’s director and executive producer Rodri J. Rodriguez struck the perfect balance between Spanish and English, humor and information, introducing acts, dances and film clips without wasting any time.