The measure of Oscar Feliu’s life can be found in his family, his friends and — maybe most of all — in his music.
In a concert filled with wondrous, inspiring performances, Feliu’s family, friends and fans gathered Friday at the Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center.
The two and-a-half hour event was called “Grateful Hearts/In Honor of Oscar Feliu.” He died unexpectedly in November.
“We all miss Oscar, and it hurts not to have him with us,” said Gerri Piscitelli, Feliu’s close friend and president of the Opera Club of The Villages. “Tonight, by gathering here in his name, it helps to ease some of the pain.”
The concert, hosted by Fernando Varela, traced Feliu’s musical DNA all the way from Ritchie Valens to Giacomo Puccini – with a little bit of Tom Jones, Elvis, Sinatra and Pavarotti tossed in the mix.
This was the soundtrack to Feliu’s remarkable life story: From his adolescence as a struggling singer in Chile; to a trip of Nashville to sign a record deal, to years performing and managing restaurants and clubs in the Midwest. He spent the final chapter of his life in The Villages; building a musical foundation and raising the stature of opera here.
A lot of living – and music — was packed into Feliu’s 66 years and the set list included everything from “Nessun dorma” to “Delilah;” from “Con te partiro” to “My Way;” from the operatic “O Soave Fanciula” to a hard-rocking, foot stomping finale of “La Bamba.”
It was pure joy watching half-a-dozen singers, led by MC Fernando Varela, rocking and bopping to these lyrics: para bailar la Bamba/ se necesita una poca de gracia or as the Anglos say: to dance the bamba, one needs a bit of grace.
There was plenty of grace on stage and the Rev. Norman Lee, a longtime friend of Feliu, showed his soulful side as he ripped into the lyrics and danced around singing: “Shake it up baby/twist and shout.”
Amen, Pastor Lee!
The genesis of this show happened about a year ago. Varela talked about how about Feliu was getting ready to retire.
“He would always sing, but Oscar wanted to slow down so we planned this show,” Varela said. Feliu was Varela’s mentor and the idea of a tribute show was hatched during a midnight meeting at Feliu’s Villages’ home. Oscar cooked up a big dinner. The wine was flowing and the concept of Feliu’s going away party came to fruition.
“Oscar planned this show,” Varela said. “We talked about it a lot. He wanted to do one more big show. These are the songs he wanted in it. We’re doing it for him tonight.”
It started out, appropriately enough, with Latin music . Hector Garrido, Feliu’s close friend, played piano and conducted a tight band. It featured: Raul Diaz, drums; Manny Patino, bass; Mike Petix, conga drums, Bob Boyd, guitar and Gilberto Paz, vocals and guitar.
The show opened with a video of Feliu singing “Guantanamera,” and eventually Varela and the band joined in.
Garrido said he was talking to Feliu about retiring a couple of years ago. “Oscar was going to help me,” he said. He added that Feliu has been a driving force for music in The Villages and just about every performer here owes him a debt of gratitude.
“I want to play a tango for Oscar,” Garrido said. “He asked me to do it, so I’m going to do it.” After that, Gilberto Paz put down his guitar and prepared to sing, “Cuando Calienta el sol.”
“I’ll do my best to channel Oscar,” Paz said. “I’m here for him.”
Next came the opera section of the concert.
Maestro Bill Doherty, of the Central Florida Lyric Opera is another longtime friends and musical associate of Feliu. Doherty took over the piano and teamed with Varela for a powerful version of “Granada.”
Then the opera singers: Michelle Dillon, Andrew Struhar, Sam Reynolds, Courtney Mills and Heather Beirne Ard, took the stage for “Libiamo.”
Varela teamed with Dillon on a rousing “Con te partiro,” and then joined forces with Mills on a passionate “O Soave Fanciula.”
“Oscar was so excited about doing this concert,” Reynolds said. “He wanted to do sing with me on ‘Pearl Fishers Duet.’ I’m going to sing with Andrew (Stuhar) and with all due respect to Andrew, I wish I was singing with Oscar.”
Reynolds was backed by the opera singers on a stirring version of “The Impossible Dream.”
“That was one of Oscar’s favorite songs,” Reynolds said. Varela led the way on a reverent “Nessun dorma.” The opera singers all joined in on the closing number before intermission: a lively “Seasons of Love,” from the musical “Rent.”
A curtain was lifted from the back of the stage and Varela introduced an orchestra with about 30 members. “Oscar wanted a big orchestra and here it is,” Varela said.
Varela opened the second part of the concert with a hip-swinging “Delilah.” Then came another Tom Jones number, “Thunderball,” from the James Bond movie of the same name.
“I never heard the song until Oscar did it,” Varela said. “People my age didn’t grow up with this music.”
Marcella Richardson, wearing a black-sequin gown, captured the spirit of the night on “Feeling Good.” She also did the Barbra Streisand arrangement to “Happy Days Are Here Again” and teamed with Varela on a rousing “You Are My Miracle.”
Norman Lee was crackling with energy on “American Trilogy.” He had the crowd singing and clapping along with “glory, glory hallelujah” and went into Elvis mode on “Dixie.” Varela turned up the emotional juice once more for “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
Lee then combined with Richardson and Varela for an explosive “My Way.”
“Oscar had a trait; he had a way of saying the right thing at the right time,” Varela said. “He was never at a loss for words.”
The stage lights were darkened and a video was played showing Feliu and pictures of his family, including wife Bobbye. Then came a video of Feliu singing one of his trademark songs, “You Raise Me Up.” It ended with all the cast members on stage joining in.
Finally, everyone came together one more time on “La Bamba.”
“This was an amazing show and I had no idea Oscar’s life included such a variety of music,” said Villager Sharon Markey. “I remember seeing him in the old days and he was always great on stage.”
“These performers, especially Fernando, were inspired tonight and you could sense them becoming more inspired as the concert went on,” added Villager Bob O’Neal.
Varela reminisced about Feliu’s appearances at the “Gift of Music” concerts at the old Church on the Square where The Sharon now stands. “I loved watching him sing at those concerts,” Varela said.
Time passes, buildings change and people move on. But memories – and music — keep the spirit alive. “I won’t forget him,” Varela said, “there is only one Oscar Feliu.”
