With 47 years of experience, 28 albums released, 11 Gold Records and 5 Platinum Records, Sandra Mihanovich —the daughter of former journalist and host Mónica Cahen D`Ànvers— is preparing to end a very eventful year. Among other things, for the 40th anniversary of “Let’s Make Love”, one of his most emblematic albums and which in September he remembered at the Opera Theater, with classics such as “María, María”, “Quereme, Tengo Cold”, “Vuele Bajo” ” and “Like Father Sun”. In 2023, the singer and actress – in a relationship since 2008 with the gastronomic businesswoman María Paz Novarro – also completed 300 programs on Radio Nacional (in duplex with La Folklórica), with her musical series “Soy Nacional”, and did several concerts in the abroad. The last one, at the Teatro de la Zarzuela in Madrid; Shortly after her return from Spain, she is already preparing for her last two shows of the year.
News: He recently presented his latest album, “Bendiciones” live. Tell me.
Sandra Mihanovich: We recorded “Bendiciones” with Lito Vitale in 2022 and it was nominated for the Latin Grammys. And since I had to do something integral with it as well as record a folklore album, for “Bendiciones” we chose a Latin American folkloric repertoire. The only unreleased song is the one that titles the album, a chamamé by Sandra Corizzo, who is also my colleague on the radio. There are also, for example, songs by Jaime Dávalos (“Las Golondrinas”), by Horacio Ferrer and Astor Piazzolla (“The First Word”), by Ariel Ramírez and Félix Luna (“La zamba de tú”) and by Chabuca Granda ( “That plowing in the sea”).
News: He recorded the song “Bendiciones” with Soledad Pastorutti. How was that experience?
Mihanovich: Very cute. The idea of recording together arose because Sandra Corizzo had the fantasy of having Soledad sing it; so I contacted her and we ended up fulfilling Sandra’s dream. We recorded it separately because we were still in the pandemic and we didn’t do it live yet, but it’s going to happen.
News: His usual repertoire includes ballads, rock, pop, jazz, blues, tangos. What does the choice of a genre for a new album depend on?
Mihanovich: I dont know. When I felt that I already had an identity as a performer, that I was going to be recognized beyond gender, I think I gave myself permission. Like in 2009, when I made “Honrar la vida”, a complete album with songs by Eladia Blázquez, which came from a vaudeville-type show I did at the Maipo Theater with songs by her. Now we are about to launch a jazz work in audio and video recorded live in 2019, at the Teatro Coliseo, which was preceded by a show at the Teatro Colón in tribute to Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald. I would also like to make a bolero album, with other singers from Latin America.
News: So, “Blessings” is one of those permissions.
Mihanovich: Exact. I do not claim to be a folklore singer, but since folklore is part of our culture, our identity, I approach it with great affection and respect.
News: He celebrated the 40 years of “Let’s Make Love” with two performances at the Opera and on December 15 he will celebrate them again at La Trastienda. Will he do the same show?
Mihanovich: Yes, although with the particularities of La Trastienda, which is smaller, more intimate.
News: Looking at her photo that illustrates the cover of “Let’s Make Love,” she recently said that she saw an “enlarged” and “spoiled” girl. Was she?
Mihanovich: A little, yes. I just see it now, with the perspective that time gives. I spoke of “enlarged” in the sense of challenging, of “I can”. First, because I had the enormous privilege of having a clear vocation: and also, of being able to make it concrete.
News: Did you always know you wanted to sing?
Mihanovich: Yes. The voice has always been very important in my life. As a teenager, when I played the guitar and started singing, all my fears, shyness, and embarrassment disappeared. Besides, because of the “I can do it”, at 20 I rented an apartment and went to live alone; And not only that, but I was also able to be self-sufficient. Consider that a year before “Let’s Make Love”, in ’82, he had already given two recitals in Obras.
News: She was the first woman to sing there.
Mihanovich: Exactly, although I didn’t know it at the time. What am I going to? Since everything flowed a lot, that perhaps made it a little big.
News: The “enlarged” thing then has nothing to do with having been spoiled, somewhat spoiled.
Mihanovich: No. I am the oldest daughter and I have always been quite responsible. She was not a “ten” student, but she passed all her subjects; and if they gave me some money a week, she always gave me enough. I felt that if she fulfilled what was expected of me, it was the best way for me to be able to do what I wanted.
News: She once won a challenge from María Luisa Bemberg for saying that she was not a feminist. Is it today?
Mihanovich: Yes of course. I said that because I grew up in a family context where the figure of my mother was very powerful; so I never felt that the fact of being a woman prevented me from doing something. Only many years later, visiting other Latin American societies that were more sexist than ours, did I become aware of the issue; and that grew with “Not one less.” We all put the body there. I went to the march with “Marita”, my wife, Sonsoles, her daughter, my sister-in-law and my mother.
News: Even so, except with the issue of organ donation, she is not identified as a militant woman. Is that to avoid typecasting?
Mihanovich: Surely. I, with my attitude in life, have always shown what I felt and wanted to do. So, I didn’t feel the need to raise flags. Neither the feminist, nor the LGBT, nor that of any political party. I feel that being consistent in your actions with what you think and say is enough.
News: She has said that the songs helped her express things that she felt and that were happening to her, what she liked and not what she didn’t like. Would you give me examples?
Mihanovich: A song by Alejandro Lerner that says “I want to be well, without anyone interpreting it” was a way of saying “stop screwing me”; “Everything Reminds Me of You” is a cathartic song, a way to exorcise a relationship; and “I am what I am” is the inclusive song par excellence.
News: Today, do songs continue to help you express what is happening to you or is that limited to the stage when you still did not talk about your sexual choice?
Mihanovich: Songs always help to say things and, many times, they are healing. During the pandemic, for example, I shared three songs (“The Plan to Be Happy,” “There Will Be No Borders,” by my brother “Vane,” and “Que Lucky”) that in that context were given new meaning. “How lucky” I chose it to close “Tonight I’m going to see you”, my first show with an audience; and you don’t know what the applause was like. We applauded each other, celebrating the possibility of meeting again.
News: Apart from the songs, did you have other support when you discovered your sexual orientation?
Mihanovich: I always had a very open, supportive family relationship. Especially my brother, who is my sidekick in every aspect, both personally and musically. Mom at first wondered if she had done something to make me take that path, but that’s all. It was a learning experience for the whole family.
News: How did the Sandra actress come about?
Mihanovich: It was because of Alejandro Doria, whom I met through Andrés Percivale, who was like an uncle to me, because of his work with mom on “Telenoche.” That day Doria told me: “With that face, you have to be an actress,” and I did my first TV role with him. I had already studied theater at the Conservatory, because I felt that it went hand in hand with the singer, but it gave me a lot of shit, I felt that it was exposing myself too much. Then I made several films and then there was a long period in which I only sang. Until at the end of the ’90s, they called me for a children’s musical comedy with songs by María Elena Walsh; and then for “Vulnerables”, with Adrián Suar.
News: The last thing was “Brujas”, in the theater.
Mihanovich: That was the sum. When he called me Lino Patalano, I couldn’t believe it. But I encouraged myself and ended up doing 350 performances.
News: How did the radio thing happen?
Mihanovich: I told it to a friend and through an acquaintance of hers, it reached the ears of Ana Gerschenson, the director of Nacional in the previous government. I love doing radio, and you can’t imagine the number of records I receive, from all over the country.
News: How is your mom? Did you overcome the loss of César Mascetti, her long-time partner?
Mihanovich: She is regal. She is still in San Pedro, with her dogs and Ana, a woman who has been with her for 50 years. Obviously, now I go more often and she also comes home from time to time to spend a few days.
News: I read that Sonsoles, his goddaughter and “Marita’s” daughter, needs a third kidney transplant. How do they cope?
Mihanovich: It’s hard, because we all hoped that the one I donated 10 years ago would work forever. But Sonsoles is a warrior, very resilient, and she doesn’t let her guard down easily.
by Sergio Núñez
