The rain, Julio Iglesias and grace

The heavens must have had some fun playing with the rain last Friday, enough to get the floors and maybe some guests a little wet at YTL’s Concert of Celebration with Julio Iglesias, but certainly not enough to dampen the spirit of those who turned up to catch the Spanish singer’s live performance.

Despite the drizzle, a slight delay and a short shuffle to and back from the shaded grounds of the open air concert, the crowd remained at an otherwise impeccably organised event to be rewarded with a clearer sky and close to two hours of pure entertainment from the suave Latin singer whose hits include “To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before”, “Crazy” and the Spanish “Un Canto A Galicia”.

Iglesias, who took off the show with “Quijote”, had the crowd warmed up, inspired and singing along with him by the time he hit the high notes with the Beatles’ “My Sweet Lord”.

The free concert at Bintang Walk, graced by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah, was the fourth in the series of concerts presented by YTL Corporation.

Several cabinet ministers were also on the guest list for the evening, which also marked the relaunch of YTL’s Starhill Gallery earlier in the day.

Between his numbers, Grammy Award winner Iglesias gave the audience an insight into the beginnings of his links with Malaysia, his admiration for Tan Sri (Dr) Francis Yeoh, managing director of YTL Corporation, and his love for the “amazing Malaysia which has grown beyond belief in the last 30 years”.

While there was no denying that the man who gave his first hit in the 1970s could still dazzle the crowd with his powerful voice, Iglesias also had backing from his band — an ensemble of musicians from various parts of the world — as well as his pretty and young back-up singers cum dancers, and a sizzling tango dance to add to the evening’s repertoire.

When there was a slight threat of another drizzle halfway through the concert, Iglesias looked heavenwards and pleaded for “a little moon maybe” and sang “Mammy Blue”.

It must have been Grace as the skies remained clear the rest of the performance which Iglesias ended with Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling In Love”, followed by “Fragile” and a passioned “Me Va, Me Va”.