Robert & Isay: Making music at home & elsewhere

Celebrating their 27th wedding anniversary this month, Robert Seña and Isay Alvarez talk about their ups and downs, and how music keeps things intact

There’s a Mr. & Mrs. Smith (the movie in which Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie met and matched, and are now entangled in court case concerning children’s custody and financial matters) and then there’s a Mr. & Mrs. Seña, a concert starring Robert Seña and Isay Alvarez set for Thursday, Sept. 6, 7:30 p.m. at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) which is presenting the event with Triple Threats The Musical Theater Couples.

What’s the difference between the two Mr. & Mrs.? The Hollywood couple didn’t survive the tests of time while the local counterpart is living happily ever after, making music all these years at home and elsewhere, and is celebrating their 27th wedding anniversary this month.

In an exclusive interview with Funfare, Robert and Isay talk about what keeps them together.

You’ve been making beautiful music (literally and figuratively) together for years. Isn’t there ever any “discord” in your marriage?

Isay: Discord is always there. We are both artists and we have different ways of dealing with things. Like in rehearsals, he has his own ways and I have mine. We usually direct and produce our shows so what could be more stressful than that? But we are able to adjust here and there. We have been married for 27 years this September so we know when and not to push things.?

Robert: I should say yes. We met as individual persons different in every aspect but our passion in the arts is something that kept the harmony.

What role does music play in your marriage?

Isay: I guess we both love music and performing for an audience is something we both share. Our collection of vinyl records can be a testament to that.

Robert: It balances the yin and the yang of our relationship. We have the same taste when it comes to music.

?Do you vocalize together??

Isay: No we don’t, unless we are in PETA vocalizing before a Rak of Aegis show. I like vocalizing in the car when I am driving and no one is with me in the car.?

Robert: Sometimes in different scales.

Do you like the same kind of songs?

?

Isay: Hmmm, not really. He likes Stevie Wonder, and music of his youth while I like standards. We both love musicals and classical though.?

Robert: I should say 90 percent we like the same kinds. She doesn’t listen to Steely Dan, though.

How are you as parents; any of your children following in your footsteps?

Isay: They all sing well. The second child is a singer, composer and producer (advertising) and the youngest loves to sing and plays drums and guitar well.

Robert: Yup, my two boys are musicians and can sing very well. Roberto has a band called She’s Only Sixteen and Emilio is still in school but has his band also. I should say that I’m not a perfect father. I let God do the rest for my shortcomings.

What do you usually argue about and how do you make up?

Isay: Petty things, really. He loves to eat at night while I try not to because, you know, we are not getting any younger and we need to diet. Or which song should go first or who would sing this part? One will make inis but after a while we both brush it off. The trick is not take things personal. Let it go lang.?

How is Mr. & Mrs. Seña different from your previous shows together?

Isay: Mr. & Mrs. Seña is more personal. We will take our audience to a musical journey, weaved through songs and stories never before heard by our audience. 

Robert: Well, it’s more of our inner self and only our true self will be shared to the audience.

What goes into the preparation for the show?

Isay: I have been trying to keep in shape but more of my singing. Been so used to acting that singing took a step back. We are re-learning to tap dance again, to sing and dance at the same time. Not easy but that is what a triple threat is.

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