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Originally from: TheAustralian.com.au
AT the end of the 1980s, a sweet-faced teenage performer from Manila began a dream run on the West End and on Broadway.
At 17, Lea Salonga won the coveted lead in the new Cameron Mackintosh musical Miss Saigon after the producer had searched long and hard across the US and Asia for his new star. Mackintosh had made the 80s the decade of the mega-musical, bringing Cats, Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera to the world, and Miss Saigon also had the golden touch.
Salonga - and the show - became an overnight sensation. She captivated audiences with her moving performance as Kim, the innocent Vietnamese bar girl left behind by her American marine lover at the fall of Saigon. Acclaimed first in the West End, and then on Broadway, Salonga soon had an Olivier, a Tony Award and a whole lot of other gongs tucked away in her suitcase.
The singer with the crystalline mezzosoprano seemed like a natural - and looked like a child - but at 17 she was already an established star in The Philippines, where she hosted her own television show alongside her equally musical brother. She first went onstage in Manila at seven, in The King and I, at 10 she played the lead in Annie.
“I was in a really great environment because I wasn’t the first artist in the family,” says Salonga, who this month will appear in concert at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. “There were other singers, a prima ballerina, a painter and sculptor, and everyone had achieved quite a measure of success. I had a pretty normal childhood, went to regular school and did all the things six and seven-year-olds do.”
She also would sing along at family parties, where a cousin who was in Repertory Philippines took notice. “He told my mother to bring me to an audition because they were looking for children, and that was it, really, that was the start of everything.”
She loved performing and had chutzpah to spare: at her 1988 Miss Saigon audition call-back in Manila, unintimidated by singing for the world-famous Mackintosh, Les Miserables creators Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil and director Nicholas Hytner, she fronted up with a program. “I thought, you know what, I may never see these people again, I’m going to get their autographs. Everyone laughs at it now,” she says.
“I felt no stage fright or anxiety, had no fear, I never felt intimidated by lights hitting me or a multitude of people sitting in the audience.
“It all felt natural and easy. I was never forced into doing anything, and I never felt that my mother or dad ever pushed me to go on stage because it was the most natural thing.”
Icons at the Arena: Masters of OPM
16 June 2012 | SM MOA Arena | 8pmIcons at the Arena: Masters of OPM is a grand concert to celebrate the greatness and ingenuity of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) from the world-class OPM concert icons and artists.
Performances by:
- Lea Salonga
- Gary Valenciano
- Martin Nievera
- Jose Mari Chan
- ZsaZsa Padilla
- Ogie Alcasid
- Regine Velasquez
- Basil Valdez
- Freddie Aguilar
- Christian Bautista
- Erik Santos
- Juris
- Jed Madela
- Piolo Pascual
- Bamboo
- Arnel Pineda
- The Company
Hosted by Jim Paredes and Pops Fernandez. With special participation of Pokwang, Jose Manalo, and Wally Bayola. Directed by Johnny Manahan. Musical Direction by Ryan Cayabyab. Presented by ABS-CBN’s Star Events.
For ticket details, please check info:
- PATRON VIP – Php 4,670 (Reserved Seats)
- PATRON – Php 4,160 (Reserved Seats)
- LOWER BOX – Php 2,640 (Reserved Seats)
- UPPER BOX – Php 1,630 (Reserved Seats)
- GENERAL ADMISSION – Php 610 (Free Seating)
For ticket inquiries, call 470-2222 or log on to www.smtickets.com. For more information, visit Star Record’s official fan page at www.facebook.com/starrecordsphil or follow @starrecordsph on Twitter.
By Lea Salonga
May 30, 2012
Philippine Daily Inquirer
This last week has been a peaceful one, work-wise, save for one brief appearance in “Forbidden Broadway” (more on that later), and watching “The Sound of Music” (congratulations, everyone, for a successful run). With the goings-on in the entertainment scene (Lady Gaga’s Manila concert, for example), it has given me time to think.
One adage I like using is this one, attributed to Voltaire: “I disagree with what you have to say, but I will defend your right to say it.” In a secular society, that should hold true, whether or not we wholeheartedly agree, or vehemently oppose whatever has been placed before us. I like applying this adage to the arts.
The funny thing about art is that it’s in the “eye of the beholder,” if I’m to quote from another adage. How something strikes us artistically differs in so many ways. Whether it’s a painting, live performance or sound recording, one person could regard it as high-brow while another could dismiss it as a failed attempt at art. You just never know. Art is subjective.
Which brings me to the more controversial art forms that have found their way into the public consciousness. Yes, you could say that I’m speaking of Lady Gaga, but I’m also speaking of anyone whose artistic output has caused outrage (I recall a particular art show at the CCP where the protest against one piece caused the closing of the entire exhibition … I never got to see the exhibit, so I can’t comment on the piece’s merits or demerits).
Interpretation is a funny thing when it comes to art. As we’ve seen in the recent protests against Lady Gaga, there was music she wrote with an accompanying music video that sent enough people into a large enough frenzy to protest her concerts. Her song “Judas” was called anti-Christian and demonic, and the artist herself was labeled a Satanist with ties to the Illuminati.
I wasn’t going to jump on any bandwagon before doing a little research, and so I looked up the song and searched online for the video (I wouldn’t have, if the media attention hadn’t reached such fever pitch).
After watching the video, reading the lyrics, and finding interviews of Lady Gaga talking about “Judas,” I came to interpret the song as a metaphor for people who seem to always find themselves attracted to what is clearly not good for them.
I’ve found myself in that position before, so I can relate to what she was singing about. And finding myself in something another person created, the art then became very—intensely—personal.
What any of you think of her is truly your own business. You can love her or hate her. You can enjoy the music, but not go for the meat dress or the futuristic shoes. And yes, you can even choose to protest her work if you don’t agree with it, so long as it doesn’t stop anyone else from enjoying her art.
Let’s not stifle artists and their creativity, and their inalienable right to express themselves. We are a proud country of artists, and I’d like to think that, in being so, we welcome others from around the world to share in our joy and our enjoyment of all things beautiful, however each of us defines the word.
Thank you, Mother Monster, for visiting the country, and for doing what you do, especially your efforts for the LGBT community, antibullying and AIDS awareness. For all that, you are a gift from God, a true Christian in every sense of the word.
And now, Philpop
Does anyone remember the Metro Manila Popular Music Festival (Metropop)? Launched in 1978, it was the songwriting competition that ushered in a golden age of original Pilipino music, or what we call OPM. It was this competition that launched the careers of many composers and lyricists, or at least cemented their foothold in the industry.
Ryan Cayabyab began his career with the Metropop, penning the seminal “I love OPM” anthem—“Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika.” Jose Mari Chan and Dero (formerly Nonong) Pedero achieved success at this competition, with Chan’s “Hahanapin Ko” and Pedero’s “Isang Mundo, Isang Awit” and “Narito Ako.”
Freddie Aguilar’s “Anak” landed in the finals and, though it failed to win, went on to become the biggest-selling song in Philippine music history. It is also the only Pinoy song, so far, to become a global hit, recorded in dozens of languages worldwide.
Now, this same opportunity is being offered by the Philippine Pop Music Festival (Philpop).
Over 3,000 entries were submitted from around the Philippines as well as from Pinoys in the UK, France, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. From these entries, 14 finalists have been chosen. On July 14, these brand-new songs will be heard, and their composers revealed. Congratulations!
It is a very exciting time for OPM.
The top winner in Philpop will receive P1 million in cash, and two runners-up will receive P500,000 and P250,000. A people’s choice award will be given to the most popular entry as decided by text votes.
Philpop is jointly mounted by Maynilad, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and Smart. Major sponsors are Meralco, Resorts World Manila and TV5. Other sponsors are Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Sun Cellular, First Pacific Leadership Academy, Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. and Philex Mining Corp. For updates on the results, visit Philpop.com.ph.
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Anonymous asked: Hi! Can you also do an offstage feature of Ms. Lea Salonga on SDC? :) Thanks!
Pretty long shot, but we’ll try our best to get to her! Thanks for the suggestion!
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By Lea Salonga
May 23, 2012
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Ah, yes, my daughter has turned 6 years old. Instead of having a party, Rob and I decided to take Nicole to the happiest place on earth: Disneyland, on Lantau Island in Hong Kong.
I’ve written about Disneyland quite a few times before, but each time we visit, it grows even more magical for us. Perhaps seeing it all through our daughter’s eyes is what makes it extra special.
She loved the Winnie the Pooh ride that took her through the Hundred Acre Wood, as well as Philharmagic that gave her a 3D view of some of Disney’s more famous music.
She also enjoyed The Golden Mickeys, an awards show-type presentation featuring some of Disney’s heroes and romantic figures, and The Festival of the Lion King, which is about the legend of King Simba, complete with fire jugglers and ballet dancing flying birds.
Nicole wasn’t too hot on the Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups ride, and Rob avoided it altogether. However, I—along with Disneyland musical director Rony Fortich and our friend Natalie Lewis (a horn player for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra)—gave the cups a spin.
We weren’t able to ride any of the outdoor rides; there were thunderstorm warnings, so everything we did was either roofed or indoors. But the weather cleared up enough in the evening, which was when a glorious outdoor show would begin.
Our little group assembled on Main Street, far enough away from Sleeping Beauty’s Castle to get a good view of what was to come: Fireworks!
For about 15 minutes, fireworks blazed and danced above the castle, illuminating the night sky. It was the perfect way to end a fun-filled day.
Happy birthday, little princess!
Food capital
Since Hong Kong is one of the world’s foremost food capitals (for us anyway), we couldn’t leave without sampling some its cuisine. One restaurant is a place we frequently visit, while the other is a new one that, after some Rob-initiated Internet research, we decided to try.
Tasting menu
ye Shanghai (yes, the ye is lowercase) has been one of our favorites since 2008. Although great for dimsum, it also boasts more upscale fare.
If you’re undecided with what to try, check out one of their tasting menus. You get a sampling of some popular items, just enough to satisfy your palate. This is what we ended up doing and were so happy for it. For Nicole though, we ordered crispy noodles with minced pork.
Best ramen
Ippudo HK is one of the two Hong Kong branches of a Japanese ramen restaurant, which has spread from Fukuoka to the rest of the world (with branches in New York City, Seoul and Singapore).
Thankfully this branch was only a five-minute walk from our hotel. We picked something slightly spicy and wholly flavorful, with medium-firm noodles, flavorful tonkotsu pork broth, slices of pork loin and sliced mushrooms.
Without question, this was the best bowl of ramen I’ve ever had. I can look forward to visits to Singapore later this year, and New York City early next year, so for sure I’ll go to Ippudo then!
Shameless plug
Woo hoo, I’ll be in “Forbidden Broadway”! I won’t say which spoof I’ll be doing, but I’m very excited. Guest performers for this show’s final weekend are yours truly, Aiza Seguerra, Nyoy Volante and Rachel Alejandro. Congratulations to Upstart for a great run.
Atlantis Productions will start its run of one of the most awesome shows to even come to Broadway, “Rock of Ages.” It will also soon be released as a feature film starring Tom Cruise, Julianne Hough, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Alec Baldwin, Russell Brand, Malin Akerman and Diego Bonita as Drew.
The Manila production of the stage musical will star Nyoy Volante, Vina Morales, MiG Ayesa, Aiza Seguerra, Jamie Wilson, Jett Pangan, Biboy Reyes and Jinky Llamanzares. Chari Arespacochaga directs.
It opens June 15 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium of RCBC Plaza, Makati.
(Source: entertainment.inquirer.net)
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Anonymous asked: Hi. I am a fan of Lea Salonga from Indonesia. I heard about the play God of Carnage that will be played in Manila this July, followed by three weeks engagement in Singapore. Since I can't go to Manila this July, I will go to Singapore. Do you know when is the exact date of this? I heard it's in November but I don't know the date. I would love to meet her in person since I'm her big fan. Thanks :)
Hey there! There are no exact dates announced yet, but I will definitely keep you guys posted :)
Anonymous asked: Hi there! Your blog is amazing, I love it! I don't have a tumblr account anymore so I go to your site directly. Keep it up :)
Thanks so much! Glad you’re enjoying it.
The cover for Scott Alan’s upcoming live album; photo by Nathan Johnson.
Feb. 26, 2012