When Juan Gabriel’s concert at the Palace of Fine Arts was announced in 1990, cultural authorities, musicians and bureaucrats cried foul because, according to them, the venue could only be used for the “more refined” arts, such as classical music or opera. The presentation of the Divo de Juárez, in the company of the National Symphony Orchestra of Mexico, was the first concert of popular music at the Palace and has become one of the most iconic performances of Mexican culture. In October this year, 35 years later, the capital’s government announced that that legendary presentation will be broadcast, with the collaboration of Netflix, for free on the screen of the Zócalo, in Mexico City. “The screening of this concert will include previously unpublished shots from the artist’s archive, which are also part of the documentary series Juan Gabriel: I must, I can and I wantdirected by María José Cuevas”, reads an official press release. The audiovisual work was premiered on Thursday 30 October.
The series Juan Gabriel: I must, I can and I want It consists of four episodes. It is an audiovisual work that the artist himself has collected since the beginning of his career. Cuevas herself said she felt amazed after reviewing hundreds of hours of recordings that offer an intimate and revealing story about Alberto Aguilera Valadez, the man behind the Mexican musical idol.
Date, time and how to get there
The event will take place this Saturday, November 8th and will begin at 8pm. in central Mexico. Some roads and public transport stations near the site will be closed, so you are advised to take precautions and arrive early. Authorities have not reported which streets will be affected, but taking into account past events, 5 de Mayo and Francisco I. Madero streets would be for pedestrian use.
To get to Plaza de la Constitución you can take metro line 2: the Allende and Bellas Artes stations are the closest. Zócalo station will be closed. Metrobús line 7 (Indios Verdes – Campo Marte) is another option to get there: Hidalgo station is the closest.
Temporary store and unpublished photos
In addition to the screening of the concert, an exhibition of unpublished photographs of the Divo de Juárez will be set up on Avenida Reforma, between the Ángel de la Independencia and the Diana Cazadora fountain. The same exhibition was held at the Bellas Artes metro station, between October 27th and 29th. The pop-up shop, also known as a shop appear- It opens its doors on Saturday 8 November, in via General Prim 12, in the Centro district, from 4pm to 4pm. to 12:00
