Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz


Laura Bozzo, a Peruvian talk show host that has caused controversy and had several run-ins with the law, had her show Laura en Accion taken off the air in the United States.

The show was canceled by the American television network Telemundo last Tuesday, El Comercio daily reported.

According to the daily, the world's second-largest Spanish-language content producer took the show off the air because of its low ratings.

Laura en Accion, which was canceled by the Peruvian network América Televisión in March 2008, was the cause of controversy for allegedly involving minors in the program illegally.

The show's authenticity was questioned and it was believed that fake cases of family sex violence were presented.

Because of regular fights on the show and the nature of its content, it has been compared to a Peruvian version of the Jerry Springer Show, an American English-language talk show.

Upon the announcement that Laura's program would be canceled, journalists and media in Peru demonstrated to be happy with the decision and thanked Telemundo.

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Abigail Disney, Walt Disney's granddaughter, along with 200 other women from around the world was present at this year's International Indigenous Women's Summit, held in Lima from April 13 - 16.

The summit brought indigenous women from over a dozen countries to discuss matters such as access to quality education that respects cultural values and how climate changes are affecting natural resources.

In an exclusive interview with Peru's Terra News, Walt Disney's granddaughter explained that she enjoys being involved in social programs and has been taking part in these types of summits for years.

Despite her family's massive fame and fortune, when Abigail was 20 years old she decided to begin taking part in social programs, stating she "gives back all of the love the world has shown her grandfather".

"Disney is a huge name; there isn't any place in the world where there isn't a person with a Mickey Mouse shirt. It's marvelous but at the same time difficult to have a last name like mine," said Abigail, who only enjoyed her grandfather's company until the age of six.

"I remember the day of his funeral. They put me on the train that was in his house and let me ride it. It was fun."

Abigail told Terra News that she did not really understand Disney movies until she had children, stating that Dumbo was one of her favorites.

While in Peru, the heiress to the Disney kingdom affirmed that she had been received warmly by Peruvians and congratulated the country's people for their excellent cuisine.

(LIP-do) -- Limeña Amparo Alam has made her compatriots around the world proud when her "Peruvian Herb-Roasted Chicken" won cable channel The Food Network's "Ultimate Recipe Showdown" contest earlier this year. The 51-year-old mother won a $25,000 grand prize in the chicken category of the competition. Not only that, her dish, which is accompanied by sweet potato fries, will be featured on the menu of over 600 T.G.I. Fridays restaurants all over the United States.

The recipe, which Alam said was a version her mom used to make for her birthday, features a roasted chicken, marinated in fresh limejuice and rubbed with cumin, basil and garlic, along with classic Peruvian ingredients such as huacatay. Out of the 100 possible points needed to win the competition, Alam received a 99 for her delectable bird.

Alam went up against eight other finalists in the chicken category and beat out Michelle Anderson, winner of last year's National Chicken Cooking Contest in the states. In the end, the judges gave it to Alam because of the chicken's spice and crisp skin.


To learn more about Amparo and how she won the contest, click here for our Gastronomy feature.

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

When it was announced that Marc Anthony would be arriving to Lima, Peru to perform a concert, fans across the country's capital flocked to ticket booths and purchased passes for the show.

It was reported that tickets for the salsa singer-songwriter's concert were completely sold out within three days; it was obvious that he would be received with love in Lima.

On the night of his arrival to Peru, fans gathered outside Jorge Chavez airport to get a glimpse of the star, who recently had his first two children with his wife Jennifer Lopez.

The concert was described as nothing less than "spectacular".

Media across the Andean country's capital assured that Marc Anthony was an artist that could "enrapture a crowd of over 30,000 people gathered at the National Stadium".

The show started at 9 p.m. and his enchantment lasted one hour and forty minutes, then he said goodbye because he has to continue his tour through Latin America, reported Terra News.

The renowned singer began his show with Aguanile, a song on his new El Cantante album, which is a tribute to salsa singer Hector Lavoe.

As a part of the concert's grand finale, Marc Anthony put on a jersey from Peru's national football team as he sang Tu amor me hace bien.

Anthony humbly but enthusiastically thanked the crowd before he knelt and kissed the stage he had performed on.

Fans had not had enough, among deafening cheers and applause they begged the singer to stay.

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Newspapers in Peru have labeled Bryan Adams' concert in the country's capital as a memorable trip to the past.

Approximately 25 thousand people were present as the Canadian rock singer-songwriter kicked off his Latin American tour of his new album 11 in Lima.

Adams started the concert, which was held at the Monumental Stadium in Lima, with songs from the new album.

It was reported that fans were close to the singer as he played in the middle of the stadium while surrounded by the crowd.

Songs such as There will never be another tonight, Can't stop this thing we started, The best of me and Please forgive me were among the rock stars first songs during the performance.

The concert was held on a modest stage that did not have lavish light shows or giant screens and Adams entertained the crowd, who sung and danced along with him, said Terra News.

According to fans, the show's climax came when Adams invited an attractive young lady onto the stage to sing along with him.

Adams was quoted as saying that it was "a night to remember".

The following day, Monday, the singer arrived to Cusco in the morning on a private jet and immediately made his way to the Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu on a helicopter.

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Iron Maiden's first famed vocalist, Paul Andrews, better known as Paul Di'Anno, is to come to Peru for a concert in April.

Di'Anno is scheduled to perform in downtown Lima on Thursday April 17.

From 1978 to 1981, Di'Anno helped Iron Maiden make it to the top of the UK Albums Chart and record the band's first two albums, Iron Maiden and Killers.

Di'Anno's appearance in Peru has been made possible by Acero Conciertos (Steel Concerts) production company.

Three bands are to play alongside Di'Anno on the 17th.

M.A.S.A.C.R.E., Armagedon and Piraña will be present the night of the show and give heavy metal fans in Lima an unforgettable experience.

Event organizers have assured that the quality of the show to take place will be just as good as concerts given by Rata Blanca and Angra in Miraflores.

All the tickets for the opera "Rigoletto", which will be performed by Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Florez, are already sold out.

Juan Diego Florez will perform at Alejandro Granda Relayza theater located in Callao on Monday, March 31st and Thursday, April 3rd.

The capacity of this theater is 890 seats. Both events are part of Callao’s First International Opera Festival.

This will be the first time that the young Peruvian tenor, considered by many the successor to Pavarotti, will sing the lead part in the famous Rigoletto's opera, which was composed by Giuseppe Verdi and Francesco Maria Piave.

Opera star Florez will be accompanied by the orchestra director Michele Mariotti, the Italian baritone Roberto Frontali and the soprano Alexandra Marianelli.

The concert is made possible thanks to a partnership between the Regional Government of Callao and Romanza Cultural Association.

(News source: ANDINA)

(LIP-ir) -- With performances for all kinds of music tastes, April is to be an exciting month for music lovers in Lima, Peru.

Concerts and shows performed by Marc Anthony, Bryan Adams and Juan Diego Florez will please salsa, rock and opera fans across the Andean country's capital.

White Lion, an 80s rock band formed by a Danish-born vocalist and guitarist, has also been added to the list of performers that will give concerts in Lima.

The band, which was reformed by vocalist Mike Tramp in 1999, has been scheduled to perform in Peru's capital on Wednesday April 23.

White Lion is to give its first performance in Peru at Vocé nightclub, said Jovan Tomasevich, vocalist for Zen, a Peruvian band.

Tomasevich, who is now the head of Morrison Producciones, has managed to get White Lion to include Peru on its tour of South America.

"We've made a deal with the group so that they include Peru on their world tour through South America," said Tomasevich, explaining that the group would also perform in Brazil, Mexico, Chile and Argentina.

According to Tomasevich, the band is very excited about playing in Peru and has stated that they want to see a llama up close.

"I don't know where we are going to get one but we're going to have to do it," said Tomasevich chuckling.

(LIP-ir) -- In an interview with reporters from RPP Noticias, Juan Diego Florez revealed information about his upcoming wedding, to be held in Lima Peru, and about the worldwide premiere of Rigoletto, which Florez is to perform in Callao.

According to the 35-year-old Peruvian tenor, he and his wife decided to have the religious ceremony of their wedding in Lima because it was the best option for the couple.

"We decided that we wanted to get married in Lima because I am Peruvian and from Lima. Since we live in Europe, we had thought about getting married in Italy, but then I said no, because I wanted the religious ceremony to be held in my country," said Florez.

He affirmed that this was convenient because his foreign friends had agreed to come to the Andean country for the special occasion.

Juan Diego Florez also told reporters that he hoped to have children in 3 or 4 years, when the singer "had fewer commitments".

"It's difficult with this type of career, always traveling, always in hotels, airplanes and different cities," said the singer.

Juan Diego will debut Giuseppe Verdi's "Rigoletto" at the Teatro Alejandro Granda in Callao, where internationally recognized artists will join him, such as orchestra director Michele Mariotti, baritone Roberto Frontali, soprano Alessandra Marianelli, bass Carlo Malinverno and scene director Mássimo Gasparón.

(LIP-ir) -- Unfortunately for alternative rock fans, the Smashing Pumpkins will not perform a concert in Lima. The news that Billy Corgan's rock band was going to play a concert in Peru did not last long.

It was announced last week that due to the great success of Collective Soul in Peru's capital, organizers had planned for Lima to be a part of the Smashing Pumpkins new Latin American tour, which is to begin in April.

Despite the fact that it had been announced that event organizers were in the final stages of negotiations, it was reported that the band would not perform in Peru.

According to Terra News, Kandavu Producciones and Fenix Entertainment Group were the companies that were to bring the alternative rock band to the Andean country.

Reasons were not given by either company as to why the concert had been canceled.

It is believed that investors took a closer look at the month the Smashing Pumpkins was to play in Lima (April) and reconsidered because of the great number of concerts that have been booked for next month.

Among the artists that are to play in Lima in April are Bryan Adams, The Doors, Marc Anthony, New York Dolls and White Lion among others.

This is the second time a Smashing Pumpkins show has been canceled for Lima. On the other hand, fans in Mexico, Chile and Argentina will have the chance to see their concert.