Icons Lea Salonga, Cecile Licad and Lisa Macuja join together in a legendary concert bound to be a classic

March 17, 2012, 8:00 PM

March 18, 2012, 6:00 PM

Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater)

CCP Complex

Pasay, Metro Manila

Featuring:

Lea Salonga

Cecile Licad

Lisa Macuja

Wilfredo Pasamba

FILharmoniKA

Gerard Salonga, conductor

Ballet Manila

Lea Salonga, Cecile Licad and Lisa Macuja are living legends in their own respective fields whose achievements here and abroad have become the measure of success for countless artists here in the country. Having just one of them in a concert or a show is already a major event in itself so when first got word that these three are actually going to join together in one show, my jaw immediately dropped and I was rendered speechless and motionless. I’ve been very fortunate to have seen these three women perform individually before numerous times and their shows are not only time and money well spent but also a life enriching experience as well. Having the three in one concert, aptly titled The Legends and the Classics is something that one can’t miss. Originally planned to happen for just one night this March 17, 2012, 8:00 PM at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater), a second night was put up as well on March 18, 2012, 6:00 PM due to popular demand which didn’t surprise me at all.

Lea Salonga is mostly known as the musical theater actress (although she has recorded albums, starred in television and in the movies and did the voice of a few characters in Disney animated films as well). Cecile Licad is probably one, if not the most celebrated pianist from the Philippines right now. Lisa is practically synonymous with ballet in the Philippines. It’s hard to imagine that these women have never collaborated before despite having more than two decades in the business mainly because of the difference in their fields although they are all connected through music. Speaking of music, Gerard Salonga will be the music director for this concert that also includes FILharmoniKA. Roxanne Lapus handles stage direction duties in this concert that also features Ballet Manila and cellist Wilfredo Pasamba.

Cecile Licad, Lisa Macuja and Lea Salonga

As the concert dates draw near, I can’t help but recall the last time I saw these three ladies. I remember watching Cecile Licad way back in 2010 during the Chopin Manille Bicentenarie 2010 in which she performed  in a solo piano recital and then played a concerto with the Manila Symphony Orchestra a couple of days later. I failed to see her when she performed with FILharmoniKA some months after that and I think that this was time she performed in the country. It has been almost two years since I last saw her perform and I’m glad that I will be able to see her perform again. I’ve already gotten news as to one of the pieces that she’s going to play and if I got it right, then it’s reliving those Chopin concerts once again. And when I saw her during the press conference for this concert that was held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, I was surprised to see her with shorter hair style which I think suits her a lot better.

Lisa Macuja’s ballet performances have been very sought after of late since she is scheduled to retire in 2014. While she might hang up her ballet shoes in the future, her support for the arts is poised to remain the same since I regularly see her at various concerts and other cultural events as a member of the audience. She was very instrumental in bringing over Russian conductor Alexander Vikulov who performed with the Manila Symphony Orchestra some months ago. I also saw her being given the Natatanging Gawad Buhay! award by PHILSTAGE for her contribution to the art of ballet and dance in the country. It has already been announced that Lisa will dance The Dying Swan set to music of Camille Saint-Saëns’ The Swan with Wilfredo Pasamba playing the cello. This number may be about dying but the music and the dance are now considered classics and will always be a part of the music/dance literature. And now, Lisa feels that it’s the right time in her career for her to dance this exquisite number.

As for Lea Salonga, I’ve had the opportunity to see her shoot the music video for Kanta Pilipinas, which is a reality talent search over at TV5. Auditions have been ongoing in various cities around the country. And as much as Lea would want to have a larger role in the competition beyond the music video, her fully booked schedule in the upcoming months doesn’t permit her to do so. But she said that if she were given the chance to mentor the finalists, she would focus on the performance aspect since that is what she can bring to the table. She also said when interviewed by the media after the shoot that when someone wins the competition, he/she can’t just relax since that’s when the actual hard work will begin. And despite whatever people have heard or read in the news, Lea didn’t diss Anne Curtis’ singing. She actually stressed that Anne right from the start didn’t brand herself as a singer so she couldn’t be angry with her. But for those who continually dish out records and considers themselves as bona fide singers while being unable to sing to save their life, Lea didn’t hold back her words in expressing her displeasure over them. While her response may sound cocky to some, I do understand where she is coming from since she is a singer by profession and she has honed and improved her craft to get where she is right now. Her professionalism did manifest during the shoot as she came in very well prepared and did her part on cue. I felt bad for the others who were involved in the shoot who kept on making mistakes since Lea was spot on. It served as a reminder for everyone that one should come on set knowing what they’re supposed to do.

Lea Salonga

These three women have achieved a lot through hard work and dedication to their respective crafts and disciplines. So one might think that they would be the most serious individuals to work with but Roxanne Lapus shared during the press conference that Cecile Licad was the total opposite. Cecile then blurted out mga lokaret prompting laughter from Lea and Lisa who tried to contain it. This incident brought some credence that Cecile was right on referring to the three of them as crazy. They said that the three of them have only met the day before during their photo shoot and yet they already looked very comfortable around each other like they’ve known each other for ages. This much rapport with each other and this was just the press conference, so I wondered how it would be when they’re already on stage come show time. Well it’s a mighty good thing that I’ve already secured my tickets to this show.

Cecile Licad, Gerard Salonga, Lea Salonga, Lisa Macuja and Roxanne Lapus

This concert is presented by Ballet Manila and Manila Broadcasting Company, with the support of Lifestyle Network, Sofitel Philippine Plaza, and Ayala Land Premier. Special thanks to McDonald’s Philippines.

Ticket prices:

P7000 Orchestra Center

P5000 Orchestra Side

P3000 Balcony I Center

P2000 Balcony I Side

P1000 Balcony II

For inquiries:

TicketWorld 891-9999