At the National Theater

Celebrated piano duo returns
to spotlight

Jaime and Nelly Ingram have won “best piano duo” awards again and again throughout their 56 years of marriage. For the first time in over a decade, they will take the stage together again at the National Theater on April 22 at 8:00 p.m. for a charity concert. The couple founded Conciertos Internacionales, a biannual worldcaliber pianist competition, in Panama several years ago.

The Ingrams, who have not performed since their retirement from the musical world in 1996, are holding a concert to benefit the competition, which serves as an example of excellence in musicianship for young national artists.

Costs are on the rise in Panama and even Conciertos Internacionales is feeling the squeeze. In addition to the hefty prizes (up to $20,000) that they pay out in order to attract expert pianists from Korea, Paris and Moscow. Staunchly committed to their vision, the Ingrams could not let the rising production costs diminish the quality of their show, so they have decided to perform together one last time to raise the funds.

This piano duo only needs to announce that they are performing in order to fill the National Theater. They are renowned international performers who are well known and highly respected in Panama, Latin America and throughout the world. The tickets will cost $100, $125 and $150 and a sell-out is anticipated.

Jaime and Nelly met in Paris. Jaime is Panamanian and Nelly is Brazilian. They were both in France studying music when they fell in love. When Nelly had received her degree from the National Music Conservatory of Paris, Jaime brought her back to Panama. “I loved Panama at first sight,” Nelly says, “I even loved Colón! That is where we landed– by boat from New York.”

Jaime and Nelly Ingram will return
to the National Theater after 12 years.

Her love for Jaime, Panama and the piano remain strong as ever today as the couple looks back upon their life in music. The Ingrams have traveled all over the world performing and competing in international musical competitions and have made great contributions to Panamanian musical culture thought the connections they have made abroad and the performers who have come to the country to give instruction. Their commitment to culture has been a lifelong quest. Both served as music professors in Panama and founded important associations which promote music in the nation. More recently, they served their country as ambassadors in Morocco and Spain.

The program will open with the National Symphonic Orchestra performing Obertura Don Juan followed by Concierto en mi Bemol for two pianos and orchestra by Mozart with Jaime and Nelly as the soloists. In the second act, they will perform original works composed for two pianos such as Three Andalucian Dances by Spanish composer Manuel Infante, Two Romances by Argentirian composer Carlos Guastavino and finish with Romanza y la Tarantella de la Suite No 2 by Russian composer Sergio Rachmaninoff.

“We did not pick anything too complicated,” Jaime explained,“we chose some great pieces that the audience is sure to enjoy.” The couple glowed at a recent press conference when asked how it was to be back on the pianos together after so many years.“Wonderful... marvelous...” they both said. But it was the look they shared that sealed the deal for the press. Their show will be a soldout celebration of love and music for the nation, driven just as much by the heartstrings as the strings on the pianos. Tickets at Blockbuster.

The Pullitzer comedy in Spanish

“You can’t take it with you”

Teatro en Círculo will be showing the Spanish version of Pulitzer Prize winning comedy“You Can’t Take it With You” (Vive Como Quieras), written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, from April 1st to May 2nd.

The cast of the Teatro en Circulo production.

The play, directed by Edwin Cedeño, centers around the eccentric Sycamore family and the exotic friends that live with them. Penelope, the would-be artist that never finishes what she starts, Paul, the junkyard inventor that builds rockets in the basement, Martin Vanderhof, the tax evading, snake-owning "grandpa" and more surround mild mannered Alice. Alice is a normal girl with a normal job that, when getting engaged to her boss Tony Kirby, a successful businessman with a conservative, upper class family, both families must meet in a rendezvous that is sure to cause many laughs.

What will happen when the Kirby’s are invited for dinner at the Sycamore home to "meet the parents" but get the dates confused and arrive out of schedule?

Tickets are priced at $15 Tuesday to Saturday at 8p.m., with shows on Sundays at 4p.m. For more information call 265- 5375, 261-5259 or visit
www.teatroencirculo.com.

Noteworthy presentations

Marco Antonio Solis

Legendary Mexican singer
Marco Antonio Solis will perform Wednesday, April 23 at 8:00 p.m. at Figali Convention Center on the Amador Causeway. Solis is a Mexican composer/singer legend. He was one of the original mem-bers of the famous band “Los Bukis” back in the 1970’s. Since then, he has recorded 19 albums. His music has evolved throughout the ages from rock to pop while maintaining its signature Mexican sound. Tickets are on sale at Blockbuster starting at $20.

Myriam Hernandez

Romantic Latin pop
Myriam Hernandez will give a concert at the Anayansi The-ater in Atlapa Convention Center Thursday, April 24 at 8:00 p.m. The Chilean singer has recorded five albums of romantic ballads, mixing electronic sounds and hip-hop beats into her more recent productions. Tickets are on sale at Blockbuster starting at $20.

Oscar de León

Big band salsa
Oscar de Leon y el Gran Combo de Puerto Rico will perform at Figali Convention Center on Wednesday, April 30 at 8:00 p.m. to celebrate Labor Day in Pana-ma. Oscar de Leon is a Venezu-elan salsa singer and he will be accompanied by a Puerto Rican big band. General admission is $25 and tables start at $50. Tick-ets are available at Ticket Plus in Video Avenue (Calle 50).

Ingrid de Icaza

Iván Barrios

Local star power in musical
Playing through April 21 at the National Theater, “2000 Años Despues” or “2000 Years Later” is a modern day musical about Jesus, Claudia and Diego, who are pitted against the times and sometimes against each other amidst a university revolution. The message is positive and Christian and all proceeds go to Centro Magnificat de Bethania, a center for young people to turn their lives around. The musical is directed by Bruce Quinn and stars national talents like Alejan-dro Lagrotta, Ingrid de Icaza and Ivan Barrios, all of national fame for their singing careers. Tickets are available at the National The-ater for $10, $20 and $30.

Alejandro Lagrotta

Special visit at St. Luke's

St. Luke´s Episcopal Cathedral is happy to announce the visit of Reverend Canon Stephen Hu-ber from the Washington National Cathedral, Washington DC. Can-on Huber will be in Panama from April 18 - 21 giving workshops and meeting with the leadership of the Episcopal Church in Panama.

Canon Huber was the Devel-opment and Communications Di-rector at Yale University´s Berke-ley Divinity School and Interim Priest-in-Charge at St George´s Episcopal Church in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He also served as Senior Associate Rector and Priest-in-Charge at St Columba´s Episcopal Church in Washington, DC and is currently responsible for the implementation of the Wash-ington National Cathedral´s pro-grammes, ministries, many facets of the Cathedral staff´s work and for congregational development of the Cathedral.

St Luke´s Cathedral, in An-con, Panama, would like to share Canon Huber´s experience and knowledge with the community at large. All are invited to a special service at St Luke´s where Canon Huber will be the speaker on Sun-day, April 20 at 4 pm.

For further information please call 262 1280.