Passionate! Electrifying! Simply Amazing!! These were just some of the words that people uttered on February 4th, 2000 as they walked out of the Oakdale Theater [Wallingford, CT] after being witness to the official kickoff of the Marc Anthony World Tour. Quite frankly, those words only begin to describe what took place. Marc Anthony is by far a master at captivating his audience in whatever language he chooses to sing in.
The show began shortly after 7:30PM as the orchestra took the stage. They began with a long intro to "Y Hubo Alguien" and then Marc casually came from the back of the stage and immediately the crowd began to scream in a frenzy. Even those who didn't understand the Spanish lyrics were dancing in the aisles as Marc captivated them with his energy. After the song, he was given a standing ovation that lasted for five minutes long. 
Marc was completely in awe to the response he drew from the crowd. That's when he told the crowd that he wasn't sure what to expect that night. However, neither was the crowd, as Marc proceeded to sing another salsa song which again produced cheers from the crowd that could be heard for miles, especially as Marc shouted out "Puerto Rico."
As the crowd applauded him, certain members of the orchestra left to be replaced by other musicians. Marc then said that he would sing "one of the first songs I wrote for the new album," the smash hit "You Sang To Me." The crowd sang along word for word. The song was followed by "When I Dream at Night." Marc continued the concert singing two English and then two Spanish songs which seemed to work tremendously well.
As the Latin musicians took the stage for a second time, they began with "Hasta Ayer" which is off Marc's Todo A Su Tiempo album. Tres player, Nelson Gonzalez, who played with Larry Harlow back in the 1970's, accompanied Marc. Nelson gave a outstanding solo performance that made everyone stand up. Nelson was not the only musician who captivated the audience. There was Bobby Allende (timbales), Eric Velez (congas), and Jimmy Bosch (trombone), to name a few, under the direction of the masterful Angel Fernandez. 
The Latin musicians truly shined their best as Marc sang "Nadie Como Ella."
The musicians rotated again as Marc sang "Don't Let Me leave," which featured an electric guitar solo that was moving. Marc also sang "Te Conozco Bien" and "Hasta que te Conoci," which are hits from his first and second albums. He managed to touch everyone with the power of his voice.
As if it weren't enough, Marc sang "That's Okay," with stellar performances from Bosch on the trombone, Velez on the congas and Allende on the timbales. 
Marc closed the show with his platinum hit "I Need To Know," which brought the whole orchestra together to produce a fabulous ending too a miraculous show.
After the concert, we went back stage and met with some of the musicians as well as Marc Anthony. We asked Marc if he felt he was ready for his HBO Special (which will be taped from Madison Square Garden on Thursday February 10th). 
He responded, "That's my living room, at home there (New York) because I grew up there and I live there. " He also said, "Whatever jitters I will have will leave once I get on stage, and if not, I will just use my nervous pose." Which is a spin on the John Travolta pose from Saturday Night Fever.
In closing, Marc Anthony, is a truly charismatic international artist that can captivate audiences of all ages and races. He is able to bridge the gap between Spanish and English to make everyone appreciate his versatility. He has a keen way of making the melody felt, not just heard. 
Marc Anthony was honestly blessed with the gift of voice, along with the ability to touch all his fans with every bit of emotion and passion that he has inside.
Be sure to check out Marc Anthony, The Concert on HBO Saturday, February 12th at 10PM EST. Also, visit him online at www.marcanthonyonline.com. The show at Madison Square Garden is sold out, but you can still catch him in a city near you...
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