Tonight (Sun. Feb. 25) is the start of Latin music's longest-running and most-attended music festival. More than 200 million people are expected to watch the telecast of the Viña del Mar Song festival, which celebrates its 63rd year (uninterrupted, except for a two-year shutdown due to Covid-19) with performances by world music stars.
Alejandro Sanz and Manuel Turizo will open the festival at the Quinta Vergara Amphitheater tonight. The week then continues with Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo Bocelli on Monday, February 26 (with Miranda! as the second act). Maná and Men at Work on February 27. Mora and Anitta on February 29. A night dedicated to Chilean artists with Los Bunkers and Young Cister on March 1st. and for the finale on February 2, Maria Becerra, who took the place of Peso Pluma after the Mexican artist canceled his Latin American tour last week. Trueno will be the second artist of the evening.
Although the artists, international and folk competitions and comedy acts are the main attraction of the festival, the backbone is its hosts. Chileans María Luisa Godoy—returning for the fourth consecutive year—and Francisco Saavedra, have the titanic task of literally “running” the festival for six consecutive nights, in a marathon six hour plus nights. Saavedra and Godoy, veteran journalists, presenters and commentators, not only host and present throughout the evening, but must go through the details of many artists (and new artists coming to compete), comedians and the live audience at Quinta Vergara, known as “the monster” for their active participation in what happens on stage.
This year, Godoy and Saavedra also have an added challenge, as the city of Viña del Mar was hit hard earlier this month by fires that left more than 120 dead and more than 15,000 homes destroyed.
A few hours before they hit the stage, we spoke to Godoy and Saavedra about what it takes to prepare to host the biggest festival in the world.
The Viña del Mar Song festival has been celebrated for almost 70 years. What's different this year?
Francisco Saavedra: It is different because a tragedy happened in Viña del Mar, more than 100 people lost their lives and there are many places that have been severely damaged. Hence, the festival took on a supportive tone. Throughout our show, a QR code will be displayed where everyone can donate to the reconstruction of Viña del Mar.
María Luisa Godoy: It is a wounded city and we want all of Latin America to help us in this reconstruction. Therefore, the more than 200 million people who watch Viña festival hope that you will join us. In the auditorium we have a donation booth, and also, we aim to heal with music, with entertainment.
How do these events change your work as hosts?
Saavedra: We rehearsed for eight months and had to change the tone of what we were going to say. The artists' introductions remain the same, but it's the empathy that changes the tone of the scripts. We had to reconsider.
Godoy: The first night is the big challenge, because it sets the tone. So much so, that we changed the exterior as well [Godoy will wear a white pantsuit, Saavedra will wear all black]. The festival always started with a party and the clothes were more fancy, but we give a more sober note out of respect.
This is no ordinary hosting job. Literally everyone in Chile – almost 90% of the population – watches this show at some point. How do you prepare?
Saavedra: There is purely editorial work. We had 18 rehearsals inside a TV studio where the producers gave us all kinds of prompts about what might happen: clapping, booing, telco outages, delays. They wanted to see our ability to improvise. You know that the audience in Viña del Mar is very different from other countries. They like to participate and are very radical. If they don't like something, they are ruthless. So one should be prepared for it.
Godoy: It is the biggest festival in the world. There are six nights where there are two artists singing, plus the competition, plus the comedian. So it forces us to learn the biography of each person in order to present them in the best possible way. And part of the identity of this festival is that it has the “monster”. And the monster is very unique. It's an audience that can literally eat the artist on stage.
In your three years at the festival, Maria Luisa, what moment do you stand out?
Godoy: There was a particularly difficult festival in 2020, during the country's period of social unrest. They even erected barricades around the venue and it was difficult for artists to get there. The opening artists couldn't come because the mobs were setting cars on fire outside the hotel and wouldn't let them through. And I want to tell you about Ricky Martin who saved the festival in 2020. Every night, we were not sure if we would have a show or not. When Ricky arrived at the scene, he had to lie down in his SUV because protesters were throwing rocks at the cars, not even knowing who was inside. Every international artist started calling Ricky to ask what the situation was. And Ricky, such a nice and generous man, completely put everyone at ease, put them at ease and helped make the festival happen.
Saavedra: Something similar happened to Alejandro Sanz this year. He went to see some of the people who lost their homes in the fires. It was very emotional.
Francisco, it's your first year. Have you been dying to do this?
Saavedra: I think it is the most important festival in Latin America and for any Chilean TV presenter being in Viña is a very important step in your career. You are seen by audiences from all over the world. You cross the border. To meet this, we study and work. It's been a dream of mine since I was little. Now that I can fulfill it, it excites me deeply.
Maria Luisa and you? How did you get the chance?
Godoy: It was surprising because my career was in political journalism, so it was never something I thought I could do. It's not something you can say no to because it's like wearing the Chile shirt for the world. It was simply the most important thing that has happened in my professional career.
You are a mother of five children. How do you balance such a demanding job with motherhood?
Godoy: As a mother, I cannot move without my puppies. I have from 1 year old to 10 years old and they are all here with me. What makes me happiest is being with them and fighting for women. Since hosting Viña while I was pregnant — there had never been a pregnant woman [as a host] — I have always said, my dream is to ensure that having children is not an obstacle to work and that work is not an obstacle to having children for a woman who wants a child. You have to break down the barriers. Motherhood can become compatible with work.
Pancho, you're breaking boundaries as a gay man with two kids. Your little one is only months old…
Saavedra: Absolutely. My daughter Laura and my son Emilio and my husband are here. It is the first time, I believe, in these 63 years that Viña del Mar is, [that it] he had [an openly gay host] and it has to do with the evolution of the world and how minds are opened. There is a lot of homophobia in the world. This is a big step forward. And the only thing I have collected on the road is affection, love and empathy. Being able to do an interview and talk about my husband and kids without raising an eyebrow is a huge step in the right direction.
The Viña del Mar Song festival can be seen outside of Chile on the streaming platform Star+.
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from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/latin/vina-del-mar-2024-hosts-maria-luisa-godoy-francisco-saavedra-interview-1235614651/
