RAUL ESPARZA in EVITA "And the Money...."

[@mimbis]

im just shocked at how beautifully he changed/kept that note while falling to the ground! like holy shit his voice didn't stutter at all!

[@mimbis]

@@JackTheAviator i dont think most broadway musicals are lip synced......thats the point

[@macrent2]

@@JackTheAviator None of them are lip synced.

[@KLK1618]

Yeah I’m shook

[@gasmmusic]

It's called proper technique and breath support.

[@TigerPrawn_]

Damn. I didn't realise that was him singing that note at first!

[@wickedfan811]

My favorite production of "Evita". First of all, it had an amazing cast - Esparza made Che look hot and sarcastic, while Toro made Eva look so small yet so powerful. And for Heaven's sake, IT'S HAL PRINCE'S STAGING! A shame that this production didn't got to Broadway.

[@Michael-ii7bk]

We were supposed to. In the fall of 99 after the tour ended in Boston. We had not only Hal and Larry Fuller staging the show, we had all of the original designs from scenic to costumes to lighting. In the transition into BA in act 1 , Larry added in the percussion at the very top (as in the movie)so we had brand new choreography from Larry Fuller. Needless to say we were all horribly disappointed!!! Thanks for the love!!! Halden Michaels. Ensemble

[@ExploringReal]

Wait, this wasn't a broadway production?! Totally fooled me.

[@NickSquaredTV]

Yeah- this is the best I've seen. He has so much power in his voice that he can just switch on and off at will. Scary good

[@EthalaRide]

It took e a second to realize it was HIM singing that note at 5:05 HOT DAMN!

[@Indomitable_Alykat]

Raul is by far my favorite Che. He has the perfect amount of beauty, power, rage, & grit to embody the character. A stellar performance

[@kathypierre3095]

By far the sexiest Che. Did you see when he has the cigar? 😊

[@rosadalessio9348]

​@@kathypierre3095𝑃𝐸𝑅𝐷𝑂𝑁.. 𝑆𝐸 𝑄𝑈𝐸 𝑁𝑂 𝐸𝑆 𝑃𝐴𝑅𝐴 𝑀𝐼́ 𝐿𝐴 𝐶𝑂𝑁𝑇𝐸𝑆𝑇𝐴𝐶𝐼𝑂𝑁.. 𝑃𝐸𝑅𝑂 𝐿𝐸 𝐶𝑂𝑁𝑇𝐸𝑆𝑇𝑂́.. 𝐽𝐴😊𝑆𝐼 𝐹𝑈𝐸 𝑀𝑈𝑌 𝐸𝑆𝑃𝐸𝐶𝐼𝐴𝐿.. 𝑌 𝐶𝑂𝑀𝑂 𝐷𝐼𝐶𝐸 𝑈𝑆𝑇𝐸𝐷 𝑀𝑈𝑌 𝑆𝐸𝑋𝐼.. 𝑃𝐸𝑅𝑂 𝐼𝐺𝑈𝐴𝐿 𝑀𝐸 𝑄𝑈𝐸𝐷𝑂 𝐶𝑂𝑁 𝐴𝑁𝑇𝑂𝑁𝐼𝑂 𝐵𝐴𝑁𝐷𝐸𝑅𝐴𝑆.. 𝑀𝐸 𝑅𝐸 𝐸𝑁𝐶𝐴𝑁𝑇𝑂 𝐶𝑈𝐴𝑁𝐷𝑂 𝐴𝑁𝑇𝑂𝑁𝐼𝑂 𝑆𝐸 𝐷𝐸𝑆𝑃𝐿𝐴𝑍𝐴𝐵𝐴 𝐸𝑁 𝐹𝑈𝐸𝑁𝑇𝐸 𝐷𝐸 𝐴𝐺𝑈𝐴... 𝑆𝐴𝐿𝑈𝐷𝑂𝑆.

[@ExploringReal]

I am SWOONING. His performance was so perfect, and the way he also represented the lower classes struggling and suffering even as Eva was parading around with little meaningless spectacles of generosity. How does this man not have a tony yet??!!

[@Vidgirl8]

Love his energy! He always brings electricity to any role he plays!

[@miaquintomj]

Was looking through old Playbills recently and discovered I actually saw him in this in '99. I loved it. I'm a huge Mandy fan and he impressed me.

[@zueruka]

This video is a part of my daily routine.

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

As well it should be!

[@rellenoz]

my downstairs neighbors really hate that I perform this song at least once a week

[@brolobear]

Wow. Just, Wow. I'm an Esparza convert. THAT was exciting.

[@franklesser5655]

He has a perfect vibrato in his voice.

[@joelbrackenbury1274]

Wow, that was impressive. I don't think I've ever seen anyone play it quite as furious as he does.

[@BillMarion]

Wow, haven't seen this one. Where have I been? Blown away.

[@jscho8674]

He is such a chameleon. Compare this performance to his emcee in Cabaret. Amaaaaazing.

[@margaretgarside5617]

Any clips of THAT available?

[@loris8645]

Ah thank you...more raul please!!

[@deenails9904]

I did not even realize this was Raul Esparza. The name did not click with me. Wow, I’m blown away.

[@M.Kpunkt]

He is an amazing multitalent and he is so absolutely very present on every stage... Now understand I, what the Words makes real: The Man is the show...... 💞💓💖 Me encantas Raúl y te amo.💝

[@lauran8968]

Me encanta Raúl!!

[@lasbagman1]

I saw this in Los Angeles in 1999. A superb production that didn't make it to Broadway.

[@musicaltheatergeek79]

I saw it in Boston at the Colonial on July 24, 1999. I remember he got a better reception than did Eva, who was the alternate. God, she was dreadful! But it was a matinee, so what could I expect?

[@Analblockage]

@@musicaltheatergeek79 A matinee is no excuse for a shitty performance.

[@Caligulita]

Even as a baby Raul was amazing. WTF. How he is he so talented?

[@spohl76]

Oh, he's so good! Love him.

[@macrent2]

Hot damn! Why am I just seeing this for the first time?

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Better late than never!

[@macrent2]

@@auroraspiderwoman5886 I must have watched this 2 dozen times in the past 24 hours! Insane vocals.

[@angeltempesta6541]

Amazing. I love this scene

[@51toniz]

HOLY CRAP!!! How is it I'm just discovering him outside SVU??

[@margaretgarside5617]

He's always been primarily a stage actor.

[@kyleburgess2834]

If i had the pleasure of seeing this, I would’ve been shook!

[@NickSquaredTV]

Totally obsessed with the ticket throw at 2:39

[@kathypierre3095]

Me too! And the walking backwards, and the anguished fall to the floor - and by far the long Banco Suzio magnet slap!😅👌

[@nicjrim]

Just wow what a perfect choice for Che

[@alvarocastro1997]

more of this production pls

[@artistphx]

Thank you for posting this. Quite interesting!

[@madamemaximoff9838]

1:02 how he sang that was just 😍

[@jaimiesalid3141]

Dang! He's GOOD

[@danromero]

Raul is a god, plain and simple.

[@belles_library]

Do you have the full show? Raul is perfection.

[@laurajames723]

I agree..this guy does one of best performances of Che that I've ever seen. I'd love to see the complete production too..

[@orlandocordova8818]

WOW! A KICK ASS CHE! 😮!

[@coffecake00]

YES OMG

[@scottmiller7779]

I was lucky enough to see this cast during the tour when they came to Atlanta. It was my first time seeing Raul Esparza, and without knowing what his future held I was like this man is destined to be a star! His performance as Che was mesmerizing!

[@F00f00cuddlyp00ps]

I'm........in love

[@peterroberts6933]

I can see there are lots of individual songs but does anyone have the video of the full performance? I’d love to see it - so many happy memories and this looks just amazing!

[@nanosaur2]

i sent this to my friend and she said natalie toro looks like elaine from seinfeld and now thats all i think about

[@denisereiland8458]

The way she stood and the facial expressions.

[@stephenstephen1505]

He is great

[@charlessanchez7346]

Esparza is a Cuban/American GOD! Bless him!

[@trektumblrian2369]

He is so sweaty. The sweatiest Che

[@adrymanero]

No es la historia real, pero que placer escucharte Raúl!!!

[@musicaltheatergeek79]

Es muy factual. Debes ser un 'Evitista.'

[@october9813]

what a perfect che!!

[@ronnierockit4468]

I played Che once, and I was just doing my best to make Raul.

[@miamiracer]

I agree, Esparza is one of the best right up there with Mandy Patinkin, but you can't compare this to the newer version of the play by Ricky Martin. The Che character has been diluted and made politically correct and is now just a Narrator - there is no fire or revolutionary idealism in the role anymore. I always felt ambivalent about the Che - because to me, as a Cuban expatriate, he was nothing but an assasin - but the character fit well in the show.

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Well said.

[@aloysiustsk]

Omg yes i couldn't put it into words but after seeing the International tour, and as someone who has seen the Broadway Version, i really really hated the broadway one. The international tour production is based on the original staging and choreography directed by Hal Prince and all, and people newer to EVITA would complain the original staging minimalist and they should have more sets, but i really very much preferred the original staging. I don't know why but it was extremely effective, smart and it just made sense and was more interesting to watch as compared to the bland bland broadway production. And yes, i so agree Ricky Martin (or the whole broadway US tour direction) portrayal of Che just totally took away what made that character a character. I saw the intl tour and i really liked how Che was there and really portrayed a side of Argentina that the broadway production did not present well, the people that challenged Eva, the people against Peronism, the revolutionaries. The Broadway revival removed the passion from EVITA (and I was underwhelmed), and im glad i saw the international tour because I saw what made Evita so famous in the 90s.

[@daintybrighton]

AHHH!!!! Thank you so much for posting this! I wrote an essay in the comment section of one of the Evita clips on KZbin several months ago so I'll try not to do it again here, lol! I "rediscovered" Evita last year and have been analyzing everything to death and I'm constantly thinking of new meanings and perspectives. Then there are some things going on in my own life that I'm seeing reflected and it's hard to explain but it came at the perfect time to be extra meaningful. One of the big things that I keep analyzing is Che's character and watching all the different versions helps me understand him better. Oh, he frustrates me and sometimes I just want to shake him and ask if anything will ever be good enough for him! Part of me fights the idea that he is the real Che, though, and I think there must be something still endearing to the character if I want to fight it so hard. The reason I wanted to thank you for posting this, though, was that I have similar feelings about the real Che and I've been seeing so many comments praising him that I have stayed out of conversations to avoid arguments. I think I might have also felt like a bit of a fraud liking Evita so much, too? I try to look for the good in everyone and believe almost everyone wants the world to be a better place and we just have different ways of going about it. If someone disagrees with me on something, I feel like they have just had a different set of life experiences. I'm more likely to defend someone than condemn them. All of this is to say that it made me feel better to see another person who has similar feelings enjoying the musical and there is another person who "gets" Che the person vs. Che the character. Not sure if that made any sense, lol! Again, thank you for sharing this :)

[@welcometomylife2353]

In all the programs they stress that this not meant to be Che Guevara, but rather a representation of those dissenting against Peron. They use the Guevara look to make it relocatable. You will not see anything but Che' and who plays him. There is no last name given is the program for that reason.

[@daintybrighton]

I agree with you to a point, Rob, but I do think there is more channeling of the real Che in the musical. The current production went back to the original (from what I understand) and in interviews I'm pretty sure the actor who plays Che admits to being "the" Che. Obviously there would be a ton of historical anachronisms and he can't totally be the real Che, but that isn't something they cared too much about, lol! When it comes to his name, it actually isn't an Argentine one but rather a nickname the real Che was given because of the way he spoke. That goes back to his Argentine roots as well, so it feels to me that they went further than they had to in order to make him closer to the real guy. Like I said, though, I do agree with you that we shouldn't think of him as the real Che but at the same time I think it isn't something to be overlooked, either :)

Ricky Martin was like a diet coke or a decaffeinated coffee. Mr. Patinkin and Esparza are the best. 👍

[@MIXANDMTCH]

when was this? i know this was 1999 but i was wondering if you had a specific date

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

5-26-99

[@MIXANDMTCH]

@@auroraspiderwoman5886 thank you!

[@captainKbobkeeshan]

Wow!

[@jkrfan7]

can you upload 'dont cry for me argentina?'

[@S-pw2jh]

No staging for this song compares! You can feel the frenzy of the Argentine people and Che’s utter distain for Eva,Toro is also wonderful I feel like some Eva’s just (fairly) dissociate during this song but she’s still Eva the whole way through

[@kathypierre3095]

But do you ----anyones cost but your own? (anyone know the lyric?)

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

"But do you now represent anyone's cause but your own?"

[@kathypierre3095]

+aurora spiderwoman i must have watched it so many times & could not make it out. You posted tge lyric and its so clear as day, i dont see how i could have thought it was anything else 😆.

[@miamiracer]

The lyrics say" But do you now represent anyone's cause but your own?"

[@roosterskylarsultan3510]

I love Raul Esparza, but what’s up with his facial hair? It’s like they combined 2 separate pieces and they didn’t quite fit together. He’s still awesome though

[@Nosferatu981]

Skylar Sultan Che Guevara shaved his beard like that for some reason.

[@cascharles3838]

To be fair, Che wasn't renowned for his personal hygiene, and look at any photo and it shows in the beard.

[@QuangNguyen-ng5zh]

This is the Jack Sparrow version of Che lol

[@fordad101024]

Fashion is never fashionable.

[@Ranger7Studios]

Wow. awful.

[@MrMjizzz]

His vibrato is way too much

[@margaretgarside5617]

Wow!