Lucero Makes Her Presence Felt at Viva el Mariachi

“We don’t want to discriminate against men, but long live women,” one member of the female group Reyna de Los Angeles said with pride as the group opened the Viva el Mariachi ’99 concert Saturday at the Universal Amphitheatre.

And indeed, the event was defined by the mercurial presence of one woman--Lucero, who turned the event into an exquisite display of ranchera passion.

A celebrity in Mexico practically since she was a toddler, Lucero was hyped so much by the concert’s numerous announcers that you almost felt as if they were trying to convince you of her vocal talents.

Their gushing comments, however, were unnecessary, since Lucero’s malleable, sweetly hot voice tackles the mariachi repertoire like few others. Her performance Saturday indicated that she is becoming a defining presence in the genre, inheriting the throne occupied by divas such as Rocio Durcal.

Like Durcal, Lucero was particularly successful in bringing the songs of Juan Gabriel to life. Her interpretation of “Se Me Olvido Otra Vez” and “Amor Eterno” were riveting, full of emotion and displayed empathy for the material.

A key element was the instrumental backing of Jose Hernandez and his Sol de Mexico ensemble, a serendipitous combination that should be repeated in the future. On his own, Hernandez showcased his uncanny ability to merge mariachi with other genres, through medleys dedicated to pop crooner Jose Jose and swing bandleader Glenn Miller.

But it was Lucero’s exuberant personality that stole the evening. From the charm with which she rescued an embarrassing moment caused by faulty microphones, to her warmth when accepting a bag of traditional bread from a male fan, the singer displayed a levity of spirit that is difficult to find in these jaded times.