[André Rieu, Live In New York, “Amigos Para Siempre,” castadiva777, YouTube]
“Amigos Para Siempre,” or “Friends For Life,” was the official theme song for the 1992 Olympic Summer Games in Barcelona, Spain.
The song, as performed by British Soprano Sarah Brightman and Spanish Tenor José Carreras during the closing ceremony, was scored by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The lyrics were written by Don Black.
The beautiful rendition above was performed several years ago as part of a PBS Special entitled “Live At Radio City Music Hall.”
It features several exceptionally gifted tenors and sopranos accompanied by the Johann Strauss Orchestra and Choir under the direction of Violinist and Dutch Maestro André Rieu.
The Tenors are L to R on stage: Thomas Greuel (Germany), Gary Bennett (Australia, Island of Tasmania), and Bela Mavrak (Austria/Serbia).
The Sopranos are L to R on stage: Carla Maffioletti (Brazil), Celine Saleh (France), and Suzan Erens (Netherlands).
Joining in the Finale is the sensational “Harlem Gospel Choir,” (USA).
Enjoy.
While March 17th is widely recognized as Saint Patrick’s Day, an unofficial U.S. Holiday in celebration of Irish culture with religious connotations, it holds a deeper meaning for me because it is the anniversary of the birth of my Husband.
He is a wonderfully intelligent, funny, talented, and supremely kind and compassionate man, with whom I’ve had the privilege of sharing countless moments and memories of wonder and joy.
Interspersed, of course, with (thankfully) considerably fewer periods of deep personal loss and pain–as in the death of cherished Parents and extended family members, dear friends, and our beloved Dogs and Birds.
Words cannot convey how fortunate I am that my spouse chose to take his ‘life’s journey’ with me. He has been a soul mate and friend like no other, and I honestly cannot imagine what life would have been like, without him.
So, to Mr HNPS, I simply say:
“Thank you, I love you.”
And in honor of your Special Day, here’s one of your favorite songs, with the English lyrics below.
“Amigos Para Siempre”
I don’t have to say a word to you
You seem to know whatever mood
I’m going through
Feels as though, I’ve known you forever
You, can look into my eyes
And see the way I feel and how
The world is treating me
Maybe I have known you forever
Amigos para siempre
Means you’ll always be my friend
Amigos para siempre
Means a love that cannot end
Friends for life not just a summer or a spring
Amigos para siempre
I feel you near me
Even when we are apart
Just knowing you are in this world
Can warm my heart
Friends for life not just a summer or a spring
Amigos para siempre
We share memories, I won’t forget
And we’ll share more, my friend,
We haven’t started yet
Something happens when we’re together
When I look at you, I wonder why
There has to come
A time when we must say goodbye
I’m alive when we are together
Amigos para siempre
Means you’ll always be my friend
Amigos para siempre
Means a love that cannot end
Friends for life not just a summer or a spring
Amigos para siempre
I feel you near me
Even when we are apart
Just knowing you are in this world
Can warm my heart
Friends for life not just a summer or a spring
Amigos para siempre
When I look at you, I wonder why
There has to come
A time when we must say goodbye
I’m alive when we are together
Amigos para siempre
Means you’ll always be my friend
Amigos para siempre
Means a love that cannot end
Friends for life not just a summer or a spring
Amigos para siempre
I feel you near me
Even when we are apart
Just knowing you are in this world
Can warm my heart
Friends for life not just a summer or a spring
Amigos para siempre
Amigos para siempre
Means you’ll always be my friend
Amigos para siempre
Means a love that cannot end
Friends for life not just a summer or a spring
Amigos para siempre
Amigos para siempre
[Read more: Sarah Brightman – Amigos Para Siempre Lyrics | MetroLyrics]
Correction: After double-checking several sources, including “The Platin Tenors” portion of Andre Rieu’s official website which describes Mr Mavrak as “Hungarian” (see link below), I have changed his country of origin to reflect both his “birth country” of Austria, and the country “where he grew up,” today’s Serbia.
http://www.andrerieu.com/en/andre-jso/the-orchestra/the-platin-tenors
“Hat Tip” to Levi van Vierendonck for bringing this detail to my attention.
HNPS
hiddennplainsight 
Béla Mavrák isn’t from Hungary, he is from the the former republic of Yugoslavia, the part that is now Serbia. Cheers!
Thank you, Levi van Vierendonck.
Could it be that we are both “partially” correct?
Here’s what I just found at Wikipedia:
Early life and studies
Béla Mavrák was born in Baden bei Wien (Austria) of Hungarian parents and grew up in the city of Zrenjanin in SAP Vojvodina, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia.
IOW, his parents are/were Hungarian, he was born in Austria, but as you correctly point out, “is from” or “grew up in” today’s Serbia.
Here’s the Wikipedia link below:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9la_Mavr%C3%A1k
If you’ve got a link that states that he is Serbian-born, I’d appreciate it if you’d furnish it, and I’ll continue to check it out.
Otherwise, I suppose the “correction” should read: Austrian instead of Hungarian, since I’m stating the Tenors’ nationalities, not necessarily their present country of citizenship or residence.
But please let me know if you believe me to be misreading the Wikipedia entry.
I very much appreciate your correction.
I may not be much of a blogger (I’m relatively new at it–only two years–but I do place a very high value on accuracy, and strive earnestly to achieve it.
Thanks again, and “cheers” to you!
HNPS
Thank you.
I’ve apparently “lost” a reply that I was attempting to send you, earlier.
So briefly, here’s what I just found in Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9la_Mavr%C3%A1k
Early life and studies
Béla Mavrák was born in Baden bei Wien (Austria) of Hungarian parents and grew up in the city of Zrenjanin in SAP Vojvodina, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia.
Since I was listing the “nationalities” of the vocalists (not their present country of residence or citizenship–unless he has changed his, which I can’t possibly know), I’m now thinking that maybe I should simply list him as “Austrian-born,” in order to be on the safe side, in the event that Mavrak has actually changed his citizenship.
Regardless, I very much appreciate the fact that you’ve taken the time to point out my error.
I’m relatively new (just over two years) at blogging, but I do strive to be accurate in everything that I post.
Thanks again.
And “Cheers to you!”
No, you’re right, he is Hungarian, but in your post it originally said he was from Hungary, which he isn’t 🙂
This is true. Please see the correction and “Hat Tip” above.
One thing for sure, regardless of his nationality, Mavrák has an absolutely gorgeous voice!
If you should ever “run into him,” please give him my best.
😉