Erik, Sitti in Extraordinary Songs

MANILA, Philippines - Erik Santos is one of the top balladeers in the land. Years after he won in Star In A Million, people still can’t stop raving about his rendition of This Is The Moment from the musical Jekyll and Hyde. Recently, he was picked to be the first Filipino artist to record a full album of songs by American singer-songwriter Jim Brickman.

Sitti Navarro is the country’s Bossa Nova diva. If Erik is power singing personified, Sitti is, like the Bossa Nova music she helped popularize, low-key and relaxing. Sitti’s 2006 debut album Café Bossa touched off a musical revolution of sorts and spawned dozens of copycats. Single-handedly, she redefined Bossa Nova music for the current generation of music-lovers.

Erik and Sitti may have contrasting musical styles, but it is precisely these that make them such an interesting on stage tandem. Live Artists Productions and Support Our Troops, Inc. saw the potential in their team-up and put them together in Extraordinary Songs, a concert on Nov. 21, 9 p.m. at the Aliw Theater.

Directed by Calvin Neria with musical direction by Beth Martin from a script by Noel Ferrer, Extraordinary Songs is for the benefit of Support Our Troops, Inc. and the victims of Ondoy and Pepeng. Joining the show as guest is The CompanY.

Erik and Sitti will do the songs that they’ve always been identified with. At the same time, audiences can expect a varied repertoire that includes everything from pop to bossa nova to movie and TV theme songs, OPM, dance, Broadway and even novelty songs.

Neria admires the talent and versatility of Sitti and Erik. He says, “It’s fun to be working with artists (like Erik and Sitti) who are open-minded when it comes to concept shows like this. Vocally, Erik and Sitti are two of the best that local music has to offer. I’m thrilled and honored to be working with them.”

For those who want to buy and reserve tickets, call the Ticketnet Outlet at 911-5555, Ticketworld at 891-9999 or Live Artists Production at 929-4568 and 929-8206.