El cantante Julio Iglesias volvió a presentarse en nuestro país ayer con un show impecable en el que repasó su clásicos de siempre, algunos hitos de la canción internacional y ofreció un set tanguero, dejando mas que satisfecho a un público incondicional integrado mayoritariamente por señoras de cuatro décadas en adelante.

Para los clásicos, el tiempo no pasa. Empezó con media hora de demora porque la fiesta de la democracia en Plaza de Mayo convirtió el centro en intransitable y fueron muchos los inconvenientes del público para llegar al Gran Rex. Pasan los años pero Julio Iglesias cada vez las seduce mas. El teatro estaba lleno y se notó que plateas y pullman se nutrieron de un público que ha crecido junto al español. El show de Iglesias, técnicamente introdujo una novedad que poco se ha visto en la sala de calle Corrientes: dos pantallas gigantes a los costados del escenario. Vestido de traje negro, mostrando siempre el perfil derecho de su rostro y caminando poco sobre el escenario, todo se concentró en la voz. Esa voz. La de siempre, pero mejorada con el paso del tiempo. El show comenzó con el tema Amor amor y enseguida vino el primer contacto con la gente: “¡Buenas noches Buenos Aires!. Que ustedes me devuelvan la posibilidad de actuar en el Gran Rex es un gran privilegio para mí”, dijo el gallego. Antes de cantar el tango A media luz, dijo luego ‘El tango es la causa de mi nacimiento, pues mis padres escuchaban uno en posición vertical y luego terminaron en posición horizontal, haciendo el amor. Nueve meses después, nací yo”. Luego cantó un tema dedicado a su pueblo natal: ‘El tango es a ustedes lo que Un canto a Galicia es a mí’, dijo. 

En un show parejo, desfilaron sus clásicos Me olvidé de vivir, My Sweet Lord, El amor, La Cumparsita, Me siento de aquí, Abrázame, Caruso, La Paloma, Ne me quitez pás, Derroche, Hey!, Manuela, La Vida Sigue Igual, Can’t Help Falling in Love, A mi manera y Me va, me va.

When you've sold more than 300 million records worldwide, you can afford to uncork the odd £800 bottle of red wine - as Julio Iglesias does when HELLO! visits him at his home in Marbella.

Splitting his time between this sprawling hill-top estate and an equally stylish pad in Miami, his main home, the Spanish crooner lives with his second wife, Dutch model Miranda Rijnsburger, mother of his five younger children, aged from five to 14. He also has three grown-up children - including pop star sons Enrique and Julio Jr - from his first marriage, to Isabel Preysler.

A former goalkeeper for Real Madrid, Julio only got involved in music after a car accident ended his sporting career. Now, as he approaches his 69th birthday, he is celebrating with his album, 1, a re-recording of 32 of his early songs. 

When I started singing I was more a writer than a performer, but crooners tend to get better with age, so I decided to do this.

I was only thinking about surviving after my accident, not happiness. Now I have an incredible family, I do concerts everywhere from Finland to China and the only thing that's different is I don't run up steps like I used to.

You have a real reputation as a ladies' man...

I learned a lot from women. I like the smell of women, I like the feel of women, I like the sense of generosity of women; I love the love of a woman and because I was a singer, beautiful girls look at you. But I never abused it I've had eight kids, which must mean I really love women. You can't have kids if you're a playboy. I'm not a playboy. I never played with women. I loved women.

I was not that guy. I remember waking up in London one day and my manager sent me up a newspaper with something about me and 3,000 women. That's not a true story. I've had a lot of loves in my life, but millions of people have had more.

Oh, for sure! I wouldn't have written the songs that I wrote if not. I've never been a nice-looking guy.

I was always skinny, but I was able to get to people through my spirit You don't have to be top of the class to become president of the country.

And the tiny ones! They play guitar like you wouldn't believe. Incredible.

I don't mind. He's an amazing artist, a champion and my son. It's in the genes. When I see Enrique and we kiss each other, I see brightness in him. If they call me the father of Enrique, I'm happy.

When you're in Miami, do you hang out with fellow Latinos such as Ricky Martin and Gloria Estefan? 

With Gloria, a little. We don't have dinner every week, but I see her and her husband [Emilio]. But Ricky's like my son. When he was young he used to come and see my concerts. Maybe I was the first Latino artist in history who became global and it's not like they want to be Julio Iglesias, but they saw that if I can do it, they can do it

No. I bet I've only been to three or four in the last 30 years and they would have been industry parties, like the Grammys or the Oscars.

I prefer to have a party at home with my kids.

No, I get happy. I love red wine but I have never got drunk in my life.

I don't want to lose control. And I didn't want to do anything that would affect my throat.

It happens to so many people, not just famous ones. It's a sickness and if it gets out of control you can kill yourself. I really loved Michael. He once lived in my house for a month making an album and when I heard that he was going to do the 50 shows in England, I thought he'd gone crazy. He had a good family: they loved him and he loved them. But I'm not anyone to judge anything but my own life.