[[Category:Countries in the OTI Festival 1997]]
[[Category:Countries in the OTI Festival 1997]]
[[Category:Costa Rica in the OTI Festival]]
[[Category:Costa Rica in the OTI Festival]]
[[Category:1997 in Costa Rican television]]
[[Category:Music festivals in Costa Rica]]
[[Category:Music festivals in Costa Rica]]
| Costa Rica in the OTI Festival 1997 |
|
|---|---|
| Participating broadcaster | Representaciones Televisivas (Repretel) |
| Country |  |
| Selection process | National OTI Festival |
| Selection date | 19 September 1997 |
| Song | “La hora cero“ |
| Artist | Erick León |
| Songwriter | Mario Campos Sandoval |
| Semi-final result | Qualified |
| Final result | 2nd |
Costa Rica was represented at the OTI Festival 1997 with the song “La hora cero“, written by Mario Campos Sandoval, and performed by Erick León. The Costa Rican participating broadcaster, Representaciones Televisivas (Repretel), selected its entry through a national final. The song, qualified from the semi-final, was performed in position 8 in the final, placing second.
Representaciones Televisivas (Repretel) held a national final to select its entry for the 26th edition of the OTI Festival.
The broadcaster opened a song application period between 1 and 31 July 1997. Of the 173 songs received, ten were selected on 5 August for the televised final. The selection committee was composed of Álvaro Esquivel, Sandra Solano, Mario Jinesta, Luis Cárdenas, Ronald Hidalgo, Alexis Gamboa, Orlando Bertarini, and Juan Carlos Mena.[1]
Repretel held the National OTI Festival on Friday 19 September 1997, beginning at 20:00 CST (02:00+1 UTC), at El Greco hall of the San José Palacio Hotel in San José. It was hosted by Verónica Bastos and René Barboza; and was broadcast live on Canal 6 and Canal 11. The price of the admission ticket was ₡2,500, and 30 percent of the funds raised that night were allocated to a charity campaign.[2][1]
The stage setting evoked the Roman era. The jury was composed of Ángela Cordero, Juan Carlos Mena, Héctor Carranza, Adrián Goizueta, and Orlando Bertarini. The musical arrangements were made by Álvaro Esquivel. Duo Abracadabra and group Pura Vida made guest performances.[2]
The winner was the song “La hora cero“, written by Mario Campos, and performed by Erik León; with “No puedo retenerte“, composed by Luis Abarca and Alfredo Brenes, with lyrics by Felipe Contreras, and performed by Grace Abarca placing second; and “Brilla el sol” written and performed by Michael J. Marcks placing third.[2]
Winner
At the OTI Festival
[edit]
On 24–25 October 1997, the OTI Festival was held at Plaza Mayor in Lima, Peru, hosted by Compañía Peruana de Radiodifusión (CPR), and broadcast live throughout Ibero-America. Erik León performed “La hora cero” in the semi-final, with Álvaro Esquivel conducting the event’s orchestra, and qualifying for the final. At the end, the song placed second in the final.[4]
