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TW: How did you get the role of Eva Perón in the Mexican production?
VL: I went to Mexico to do a television special, and the people from my record company at that time, Polygram, informed me that they were looking for someone to play the part of Eva Perón in the Rock Opera EVITA. So, I auditioned and I got the title role. After this, my life was a marathon: I returned to my country, I packed my bags and I took my family with me (my husband and my little two-year-old son). In one week, we started our life in Mexico. We stayed there for a year, which was how long my contract lasted.
TW: What moment from the show do you remember as being the most emotional?
VL:
The most emotional moment of the show was, without a doubt, the final scenes
when Eva, at the point of her death, maintains her incredible strength and
uncommon vitality which were products of her unconditional love for Argentina
and its people.
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TW: Would you like to star in EVITA again? (this time in Argentina of course) VL: I have always felt like performing the role again. It was a musical that made a lasting
mark on me in both my career and my life. It not only let me become an international success, but it
also gave me a more precise view of what Eva Duarte de Perón was like in life
and of the great work she did for her homeland. Even today I cannot stop performing the beautiful song,
"No Llores Por Mí, Argentina", because the public will not
forgive me if I do! TW: Do you have any interesting stories that you could share with us about your time as Eva Perón? |
VL: I have many with respect to my
characterization of that wonderful role.
However, the ones that I remember most are:
When
I was performing the last scene of the show, in the most dramatic part when Eva
is dying, (together with Jorge País, the actor who was Perón) my son, who was with
his "nana" in the theatre screamed with his little voice of two
years: "GOOD
MOMMY!!!!" I swear I nearly
died. It struck us both very funny
and it was impossible to stop laughing.
It was very hard, but with the passing of time it has become a wonderful
anecdote.
The
second has to do with a time that the tape that had all the songs from the show
broke (there was no orchestra, but rather we sang using taped tracks). No one knew what to do. So, I began singing a capella
for a good while, and my fellow actors congratulated me and applauded me. This was a very happy moment for me.
TW: Do you and the other Evita from Mexico, Rocío Banquells, still contact each other?
VL: Sadly, my life has taken different
paths and I have not had the opportunity to meet with Rocío. Nevertheless, I (from my country)
follow the career of my fellow singer, whom I admire much. By way of your page, I would like to
send to her, and my other stage friends, an enormous kiss, and I would like to
say to them that I remember them all with much love and affection.
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LE MANDO UN ABRAZO (A hug) VALERIA ¡Mil gracias Valeria! |
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