The Ludmila Confessions

Maestro Aldemaro Romero and me celebrating the success of Onda Nueva in Alejandro’s Penthouse Bar

At a party at Reni’s house, Jack and I met some people that were talking about holding the First World Festival in Caracas, called Onda Nueva. They suggested that we might like to help, especially since I was in show business, rubbing elbows with lots of stars and knew lots of interesting people. Jack decided to send me with mama to Caracas to organize things. By now Walter was living in Sausalito and I was married and apparently happy, so there was no reason to go home except for business.

We arrived in Venezuela at Maiquetia Airport where my sister’s husband picked us up. As we drove to Caracas, he thanked me for “that wonderful introduction to that pilot with Alitalia airlines,” because he was very helpful to him in Rome. The pilot took him to his home for lunch and escorted him to many places. This handsome Italian pilot, Giovanni, showed Valery great hospitality; he was not my lover or anything, but he was a good friend that liked me very much. It was a kind gesture for him to take care of Valery Chechelev, my ex brother in law.

Mama and I arrived at the Tamanaco Hotel and I had invitations to the Penthouse of my friend Sr. Alejandro Rodríguez, where I had been before. I went alone while mama stayed in our room at the hotel with some Russian lady friends of hers. There at the party was everybody I needed to meet for the Onda Nueva festival: the President of the show and creator Aldemaro Romero in person. Maestro Aldemaro was a great Venezuelan composer, musician and director of the Symphonic Orchestra of Venezuela. So officially we were the people to be contacted for the invitations for the first world music festival Onda Nueva.

This was the most exciting thing happening in all of the music industry. There would be artists from all over the world and I invited famous friends from Los Angeles and Hollywood. One of the greats at that time was Peter Graves, since his “Mission Impossible”TV show was playing everywhere in the world. My dear niece went with us a day before, and we began the preparations from for staging. It was probably the greatest musical event Venezuela ever had!

We were back again at my favorite Hotel Tamanaco, where almost every one of our guests was staying. In entering the elevator you might encounter Manzanero or Daniel Rio Lobos, or Peter Graves’ wife Joan, or Aldemaro himself. It was a great high energy atmosphere that was electrifying and alive, with gay, happy, smiles on every face, flowers everywhere and full preparations for the guests. Every salon and dining room in the hotel was a magical atmosphere.

The fantastic energy of the opening night was indescribable. We all wore formal dress, and we walked down the red carpet at the entrance of Teatro Municipal, where the event was taking place. The theatre was full of celebrities and people anxious to hear the new sound call Onda Nueva (New Wave). After the acknowledgement of the special guests present, including Jack and I, with a very brief applause, many thanks were given to all that were part of the magical night. The first night was powerful, glorious, strong and everyone loved it. When the music started playing everyone stood up!  It was phenomenal, with remarkable sounds blaring at our ears, Aldemaro at the piano, playing music with composers like Manzanero. They played the rhythms of Onda Nueva and the festival made many artists and composers very famous overnight.

Afterward, everyone was invited to the hotel to celebrate the great success of Onda Nueva. We celebrated late, some of until the morning dawn, still partying at Alejandro’s Penthouse, as seen in the picture.