Rising stars steal David Foster’s show at Mandalay Bay
Excerpt from Las Vegas Weekly, written by Robin Leach.
. . . David introduced young Fernando Varela of San Juan, Puerto Rico, now in Orlando, who he’d discovered from his online submissions in “Born to Sing.” How “American Idol” or “The Voice” missed this young man is a question for the ages.
Luciano Pavarotti has been reborn! Fernando has the voice and personality of a superstar. I don’t think I have ever seen an audience more spellbound with the majesty of his vocals, and again more cheers and a very long standing ovation.
No wonder David’s show was running over time, but it didn’t matter. Nobody was watching the clock. Then three miracles took place right before our eyes and ears. David waded into the audience to give people 10 seconds to prove they could blow him -- and us -- away.
David summed it up best: “Holy crap! This has been amazing. Why am I bringing out these superstars onstage when we have them in the audience? Wow, what a night. We experienced a once-in-a-lifetime musical miracle.
“I’ve worked with every giant in the record business, and just when you think you’ve already heard everything, even I was blown away. The night belonged to five unknowns who stole my show. I couldn’t be happier!”...
For the full review go to http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/blogs/luxe-life/2011/nov/26/exclusive-photos-rising-stars-steal-david-fosters-/
November, 28, 2011 @ 1:50pm MST
Fernando to perform in star-studded David Foster & Friends concert
Fernando Varela has been invited to perform with David Foster on November 25th for the next installment of David Foster & Friends at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.
David Foster is the ultimate Hit Man. Producer, songwriter, TV host, discoverer of talent, noted author, hit maker and record company executive – and an artist whose influence in some of the biggest names in the music business is without precedent. He’s the man with a magic touch. And he’s just getting started…He has been an integral part of the biggest and best talents in the music industry including Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Andrea Bocelli, Chicago, Michael Bublé, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Josh Groban, Earth Wind & Fire, N'Sync, The Corrs, Natalie Cole, Kenny Loggins, Kenny Rogers, Chaka Khan, The Tubes, All 4 One, Michael Bolton, Brandy and a few thousand more.
In between writing and producing a stunning number of hits throughout the last four decades, the 16-time Grammy winner and three-time Oscar nominee returns with what may be his greatest role yet as maestro of ceremonies for the now legendary Foster & Friends franchise – concerts, DVDs, CDs and Great Performances Specials. This time out Foster returns with another stellar lineup for “The Hit Man Returns: David Foster and Friends” filmed at The Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas. “Hit Man” shows Foster shining in his role as ringmaster bringing together yet another staggering line-up of talent for a brilliant sold out show. With performances by Seal, Donna Summer, Martina McBride, Charice, Earth Wind & Fire, Michael Bolton, Jackie Evancho, Chaka Khan and more. It’s an unforgettable night of magic. Highlights include outstanding duets with Seal and Donna Summer (“Unbreak My Heart”/ “Crazy”/ “On the Radio”) and a show stopping Michael Bolton/Seal/Chaka Khan medley of “When A Man Loves A Woman” /”It’s A Man’s World” and “I’m Every Woman.”
The first David Foster & Friends Hit Man Great Performance show became the highest rated pledge show of the decade and was viewed by millions of fans in unprecedented numbers.
“I finally got out of the studio after all this time,” reveals Foster…But luckily not for good. In between Foster & Friends, he continues to produce some of the great voices of our time including recent stints with Michael Bublé, Seal, Andrea Bocelli, Jackie Evancho, Whitney Houston and “Glee” artist Charice.
November, 07, 2011 @ 3:49pm MST
Concert Review - 04/19/2011 - Kelowna, BC, Canada
The following review was written by Randy Zahara, manager of the Kelowna Community Theatre in British Columbia, Canada...
"On April 19, 2011 something amazing happened at the Kelowna Community Theatre, and although, widely anticipated, the impact on the audience was completely unexpected.
Fernando Varela, one of the world’s most promising young tenors took the stage and moved the audience with a performance that was an emotionally beautiful, completely entertaining and captivating blend of classical opera and classic rock. As the manager of the Kelowna Community Theatre, I have attended many great performances over the past eight years, however, I have never before witnessed such a powerful post-event audience reaction.
Fernando began the concert singing the classic “Granada’, in the wings out of sight of the audience and before he had walked the short distance to the microphone stand at centre stage he had already won the audience over. The person I was sitting beside and I just looked at one another, both mouthing the same words, “Oh, My God!” From the very beginning of the concert, through to the final notes of the encore, which was a brilliantly arranged blending of “O Solo Mio” with “It’s Now or Never” ( where Fernando holds an incredibly powerful note for an unheard of, full thirty seconds), was a span of over two hours, but, under Fernando’s spell, the time seemed to go by in a matter of minutes.
Listening to the audience reaction to the various songs throughout the concert was also a unique experience, as it became very clear that Fernando had attracted a broad spectrum of music lovers, from those who started cheering at the first few notes of Nessun Dorma, to the screams that erupted at the beginning of the Bohemian Rhapsody, to the people singing along to Orbison’s “Pretty Women”, to the women I saw weeping openly at Fernando’s delivery of Elvis’s “American Trilogy”. Although they all may have come with a specific genre of music in mind, they all left united by the brilliance and power of Fernando’s performance and of an evening that was pure magic.
It has taken me three days to write this review, as I have needed the time to truly absorb what I had witnessed the evening Fernando performed at the Kelowna Community Theatre, and in that time I have had numerous people telephone me, email me, drop into my office and stop me in the street to let me know how moved they had been by Fernando’s performance, and what an unbelievable experience it had been for them. As I have already mentioned, I saw women weeping openly, unable to speak immediately after the concert as they had been moved so emotionally by Fernando’s voice and grace on stage, and, I, myself, at one point, laughed out loud, at the surprise of hearing a sustained note of such purity, power and beauty that it was completely unexpected, and I had no personal reference for witnessing such an amazing musical moment.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the stellar group of musicians who accompanied Fernando Varela on stage, as they were nothing less than absolutely brilliant. Ron Paley on Piano is one of the finest musical arrangers and concert pianists in North America, and his sense of how to exploit the incomparable talent of Fernando Varela was a significant contribution to the success of the evening. On Bass, Gord Maxwell was flawless and his supporting harmonies were pitch perfect. The drummer, Murray Smith was fabulous, with an accurate and crisp style that showed his experience and also a deep understanding and grasp of the arrangements created by Ron Paley. On lead guitar was Mr. Lee Worden who’s solo’s were another one of the many highlights of the evening and who truly showed off his talent when he tackled Bohemian Rhapsody with all the skills of a Brian May.
Judging by the number of people who told us after the performance that it had been the best concert they had ever attended, I think that Fernando’s promise to return to the Kelowna Community Theatre in the not too distant future, will be one event that Packing the House Productions will have no problem selling tickets for."
April, 26, 2011 @ 11:12pm MDT
Upcoming Concert in The Villages - April 7th, 2011 - Symphonic Rock
The American Pops Orchestra presents Symphonic Rock, a fusion of
classical and classic rock, featuring world-renowned vocalists Fernando & Susan Varela, Craig Irvin (from Four Divo and Chicago Lyric Opera), and Giorgia Fumanti (EMI Recording artist, known as Italy's Sarah Brightman). This not-to-be-missed concert will be conducted by music luminary and Villages resident Maestro Hector Garrido and feature a 24 piece orchestra. Selections will include songs from: Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Sarah Brightman, Phantom of the Opera, Roy Orbison, Queen, Journey, and Puccini. Showtimes are 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM. Tickets available through the Villages Box Office or online at: http://www.thevillages.net/boxoffice
