Intimate. Magical. Real. Unforgettable. Those are just some of the words that can be used to describe the live concert offered by Mexican superstar Thalía on Thursday, July 30, at the University of Miami's BankUnited Center in Coral Gables.

Sony Music Latin and Primera Fila presented the second concert in a series that began last year with legendary Mexican singer Vicente Fernández. The concept is to showcase live performances of some of the biggest names in the Latin music industry, and to do so in front of a select, more intimate audience.

After selling 25 million albums, and having become a global icon with her "telenovelas", Thalía had nothing to prove, but she craved a new professional challenge and Primera Fila was the perfect stage. She wanted to solely focus on her music, nothing else.

Accompanied by 12 musicians, Thalia performed 15 live songs from some of the most influential composers of Latin America, including Juan Luis Guerra's `Cuando Te Beso' and Roberto Carlos' `Qué Será de Ti'. She also performed new songs, including "Equivocada", written by Sony's revolutionary new talent, Mario Domm, lead singer from the award-winning pop rock group Camila. One of Primera Fila's highlights was definitely her duet ("Con La Duda") with legendary Mexican singer Joan Sebastian. The performance was not only unexpected, but also brilliantly executed.

Different from anything she's ever done, Thalía's Primera Fila was a personal, raw, up-close revelation of the woman and the artist. With powerful interpretations, fan interactions and an invitation to witness the latest from one of the world's most original Latin superstars.

Throughout the night, Thalía sang with great honesty, as someone who has matured musically and has clearly evolved as an individual. More importantly, she revealed her passion for music in an environment that allowed any fan to share her great joy.

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1. Ya Lo Sabía (Audio Bed (Photo Gallery) 2. Thalía En Primera Fila Documentary 3.Cosiendome El Corazon 4. Enséñame A Vivir; Spoken Word\ Enséñame A Vivir 5. Qué Será De Ti (Como Vai Voce); Spoken Word\ Qué Será De Ti (Como Vai Voce) 6. Cómo 7. El Próximo Viernes; Spoken Word\ El Próximo Viernes 8. Medley; Spoken Word\ Entre El Mar Y Una Estrella\ Piel Morena\ No Me Enseñaste\ Amor A La Mexicana 9. Estoy Enamorado; Spoken Word\ Estoy Enamorado Duet With Pedro Capó 10. Equivocada 11. Brindis; Spoken Word\ Brindis 12. Con La Duda; Spoken Word\ Con La Duda Duet With Joan Sebastian 13. Cuando Te Beso 14. Mujeres

Mexican superstar Thalia has come a long way since her early '90s days as a thin-voiced Latin pop-tart. Her stellar 1997 album, Amor a la Mexicana, was a full-throttle assertion of her maturing talent, thanks in large part to va-va-voom production work from Emilio Estefan Jr. Things heat up even more on Arrasando, the singer¹s most focused collection to date. Thalia and Estefan blend salsa, rap, reggae, cumbia, and aggressive club beats into one irresistible mix. Just try to keep your feet still during the infectious rhythms of "Regresa a Mi," "Pata Pata," and "Siempre Hay Carino." Thalia proves equally adept at ballads, particularly on the majestic first single, "Entre el Mar y una Estrella." The sexy singer has already recorded English-language tunes for overseas release, and now that she¹s dating Sony president (and Mariah¹s ex) Tommy Mottola, crossover success seems only a few hip swivels away. --Joey Guerra

DVD track listing: Las Muchas Vidas De Thalía (Video (Documentary))

Thalia's first album on the EMI Latin label finds the Mexican singer and soap-opera starlet moving away from the disposable pop of her earlier discs in favor of richer, more diverse sounds. There are a few limp moments on En Extasis, but Thalia is clearly coming into her own as a singer. The switch is in large part thanks to producers Emilio Estefan Jr. and Kike Santander, who expertly disguise Thalia's shortcomings as a vocalist with slick production values. "Piel Morena," the album's first single and best track, is an intoxicating, sexy cumbia. Thalia shines on "Amándote," a dance track produced by A.B. Quintanilla III , and she even manages a sweet rendition of Juan Gabriel's "Gracias a Dios." The ballads "Quiero Hacerte el Amor" and "Lágrimas" (the latter cowritten by Thalia) also draw attention to unexpected shadings and nuances. --Joey Guerra

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