Vicente Fernandez remains ‘El Rey’ at the Allstate Arena

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Vicente Fernandez, pictured at the Allstate Arena in 2010, returned for another triumph concert on Sunday. Photo by Oscar Lopez.

Updated: October 24, 2011 7:03PM

Though he’s reached the autumn of his years chronologically, artistically it might as well be spring for Latin music legend Vicente Fernandez.

Nearing 72, he remains the leading interpreter of ranchera music, and more than 50 years into his storied career, he continues to set and attain creative challenges. His last studio disc, “El Hombre Que Mas Te Amo” (Sony Latin, 2010), debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin albums chart; it also marked the first time in his long career that he produced one of his own projects himself.

With fellow Mexican icon Joan Sebastian, he has finished “Otra Vez,” due out in late November, on which “El Rey de la Cancion Ranchera” moves in a new direction musically (with electric guitars and elements of banda — in another first for the longtime ranchera purist).

Last week, at the inaugural Billboard Regional Mexican Music Awards, Fernandez received two honors: ranchera/mariachi artist of the year and ranchera/mariachi album of the year for “El Hombre Que Mas Te Amo.” (The ceremony will be telecast at 6 p.m. CST Thursday on Telemundo.)

Meanwhile, “El Idolo de Mexico” maintains a touring schedule that would wear out artists half his age. From the moment he bounded out onstage Sunday night at the Allstate Arena until he signed off three hours later, Fernandez remained the picture of youthful vigor. Chente (as he’s known to his fans) has become the Latin music equivalent of Dorian Gray. You have to wonder: Does he have a portrait stashed away in the attic of his homestead, Los Tres Potrillos ranch, near Guadalajara?

Accompanied by his longtime band Mariachi Azteca, and sporting his usual full charro regalia, he performed thrillingly in his trademark larger-than-life style. Along with his endearing machismo — who crushes a plastic shot glass with more authority than Chente? — he offered many moments of geniality and tenderness.

With his extended notes and arching phrases, he soars to an emotional peak on every song. In Latin music or any other genre, no one comes close to matching his volcanic intensity. He’s often compared to Frank Sinatra, but his operatically inclined baritone seems more in the realm of a Placido Domingo (who coincidentally, grew up in Mexico and started out as a baritone). But if Domingo, who’s also in his early 70s, with similarly remarkable stamina (and has even recorded several mariachi discs), were ever to face off with Chente onstage, it would be no contest.

At the Allstate, Fernandez powered through 45 songs, including his standards “Las Llaves de Mi Alma,” “La Ley del Monte” and “A Pesar de Todo.” He also tipped his sombrero to Sebastian, whose songs like “Estos Celos” and “Para Siempre” fit Chente like one of Fernandez’s finely tailored charro suits. Working-class heroes, they both share an indelible bond with their fans.

Chente saluted another hero, the great ranchera singer-composer Jose Alfredo Jimenez, whose “El Rey,” “Ella,” and “Que Te Vaya Bonito” he has made his own by expertly distilling their essence of Mexicanismo.

Perhaps the most poignant moment came on “El Hombre Que Mas Te Amo,” a serenade of paternal love. As photos of his sons including fellow music superstar Alejandro flashed on video screens above, Fernandez sang movingly of “the man who loved you the most.”

Above all, Chente radiated orgullo (pride) in his love of country and culture via songs such as “Mexico Lindo y Querido” and “Gua­dalajara.” Last week at the Pan Am Games, held this year in his home state of Jalisco, Fernandez caught flak for flubbing the lyrics of Mexico’s national anthem, and in the process, his critics claimed, embarrassing his homeland. That’s absurd. As he has demonstrated for so long by his artistry and personal integrity, who has ever loved Mexico more?