Glorious singing for charity

Beloved Encore” was a night of fine dining and glorious singing! Recently held at the Rizal Ballroom of Makati Shangri-La, the event was a fund drive for the benefit of Gift of Life and Liver Transplant Program, chaired and co-chaired respectively by Imelda Cojuangco and the Manuel Pangilinan. Marietta Santos with Josine Elizalde managed the fund-drive. Makati-Shangri-La was the sponsor.

Taking center stage are classical singers from the US, namely soprano Lea Woods Friedman, baritone Ryan Taylor, mezzo soprano Fenlon Lamb, tenor Victor Robertson with Tyson Denton on the piano and our very own balladeer Martin Nievera with Louie Ocampo directing the orchestra. The singers rendered operatic arias, ensemble numbers and Broadway hits, while balladeer Martin dished out popular foreign as well as Philippine love songs.

Deeda Garcia Versoza, member of the organizing committee, prefaced the show with an introduction on the fund drive the proceeds of which will undertake the open-heart surgery and kidney transplant of needy patients. Newly appointed general manager of Makati Shangri-La Reto Klauser welcomed the guests who were in “for a rare musical spectacle,” treated to a lovely evening of songs, and a gastronomic culinary interlude provided by the hotel’s chefs as a “symphonic accompaniment to” the program.

A skillful fusion of classical as well as popular numbers, the program reeled off in a smoothly paced production number craftily directed by Gina Godinez.

Cozy lighting, done by Monino Duque, enhanced a debonair appeal of the functional stage that altogether projected a cool intimate ambience. Moreover, amplification was superbly done as it sensitively projected a mellow sound, thanks to the combined expertise provided by Jaime Godinez and Rardes Corpuz.   Margarita Fores of Firoi di M did the striking, lovely floral décor and arrangement.  

The singers rendered familiar arias. Applause was hearty for these arias, and well rendered ones. Largo al Factotum, that catchy aria from Rossini’s Barber of Seville, was greeted with warm applause as baritone Ryan Taylor rendered it with stunning dispatch. The lovely aria from Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, O Mio Babbino Caro, hushed the audience to deep listening. Lea Woods Friedman rendered the song with much affection. The audience greeted Verdi’s La Donna e Immobile with rousing applause at the end. Tenor Victor Ryan Robertson rendered the aria with gusto, perhaps instinctively knowing that he was singing a quite popular aria that the audience was familiar with.

Cruda Sorte, that lovely aria from Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri, did not ring a bell, but mezzo-soprano Fenlon Lamb got a warm applause for her moving rendition. Hearing her as Rosina in Barber of Seville, in a performance of the Cleveland Opera on Tour at Cleveland, Ohio some years back with our very own tenor Gary del Rosario as Lindoro, was a rare treat. Hearing her again this time in Manila was certainly a double treat. Her voice is a fine Rossini mezzo that has quite matured.

The quartet from Puccini’s La Boheme was a finely rendered ensemble. They essayed a well-nuanced and finely executed ensemble singing.

The Broadway numbers were ardently appreciated. I Could Have Danced All Night from My Fair Lady, sung by soprano Friedman; Hello Young Lovers from The King and I, sung by mezzo soprano Lamb, and Maria from Westside Story, rendered as a duet by baritone Taylor and tenor Robertson were scene stealers.

Balladeer Martin Nievera delivered a coup de grace! He capped the show with a romantic flair as he dished out some unforgettable love songs from Tin Pan Alley, spiced by Philippine love songs. He crooned and swooned over the audience, especially the ladies who came in their lovely gowns. Nat King Cole’s Stardust was a sure hit. So were the Tagalog ditties Narito, and Ikaw ang Pagarap, the theme song of the teleserye, Lobo. Seated on the keyboard was another pop icon, Louie Ocampo, who orchestrated the songs and directed the orchestra.

 A glorious rendition by the entire cast of Con te Partiro capped the show. A fund drive for a humanitarian cause, for sure, is best achieved with a classy and professionally handled show such as “Beloved Encore.”