"That Happy Feeling" by Bert Kaempfert
This song was used as the theme song for "The Sandy Becker Show" on WNEW Channel 5 - New York in the early 1960s.
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Sunday, September 10, 2023
Spain's Granada Flamenco Ballet to perform in PH
Straight from the heart of Seville, Spain, Granada Flamenco Ballet is set to perform its riveting rendition of "Báilame (Dance for Me)" for the first time on the Philippine stage on September 20 and 21 at the Casino Español de Cebu in Cebu City, and on September 22 and 23 at the Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez (CCP Blackbox Theater) inside the CCP Complex.
This production is a collaboration between the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), the Embassy of Spain in Manila, the Casino Español de Cebu, and the Flamenco Agency from Seville to commemorate the Philippines and Spain's diplomatic relations for 75 years.
Flamenco dances often demonstrate stories through graceful movements and intricate footwork coupled with acoustics.
"Granada Flamenco Ballet is more than a dance ensemble; they are the living testament to the art form that influenced many Filipinos. The fusion between history and artistry will definitely create an unforgettable experience that appeals to both aficionados and newcomers to the Flamenco scene," said CCP vice-chair Margie Moran-Floirendo.
Báilame is a ballet performance focusing on finding a greater balance between music and dance. For this show, the audience will be enthralled by the absence of a plot, making everything else focused on the dancers' movements.
The repertoire for the Philippine premiere will focus on sensations and feelings associated with the sound of the Flamenco shoes or castanets, other acoustics, or the most profound silence while dancing.
Founded in 2007 by Dr. Jaime Trancoso, the Granada Flamenco Ballet has taken its artistry to international audiences, earning a reputation of having the best Flamenco artists in Spain.
Similarly, the dance group has graced prestigious venues across the globe, such as the National Center for the Performing Arts Opera House in Beijing (NCPA), Shanghai International Dance Center Grand Theatre (SIDC), Aga Khan Museum (Canada), and the Teatro Campoamor de Oviedo (Spain).
"While keeping the traditional elements of Flamenco, Granada Flamenco Ballet has a fearless approach to fusion. And with each performance, they exceed expectations and leave a lasting impression," shared CCP president Michelle Nikki Junia. Flamenco dances often demonstrate stories through graceful movements and intricate footwork coupled with acoustics. Spain also had a significant influence on the Philippine dance traditions during the 16th century.
This led to the birth of the country's national dance, Cariñosa, and other famous Flamenco-inspired folk dances, such as Pandanggo sa Ilaw, Zarzuela, and Tinikling, which are still performed with pride during important events up to this day.
"Filipinos love to dance. It is deep within our roots. To see where it bloomed would definitely be an experience. This staging is also a testament to the rich blending of cultures that lived through time," said CCP artistic director Dennis Marasigan.
Promoting authentic Flamenco production on the local stages strengthens CCP's mission and dedication to providing more diverse cultural experiences for Filipino audiences. CCP also hopes this staging will inspire the younger generation to engage in the arts.Granada Flamenco Ballet's Báilame tickets are available at Ticketworld.
Legendary pianists Raul Sunico and Rowena Arrieta to perform together again
The duo concert will be held at the Metropolitan Theater
AT A GLANCE
Sunico and Arrieta brought Filipino piano wizardry to stages all over the world. ‘Ritmo at Romansa’ with them on two pianos will give today’s generation a taste of their incredible talent.
After over a decade, pianists Raul Sunico and Rowena Arrieta will be performing together again in “Ritmo at Romansa,” a duo concert to be held at the Metropolitan Theater on Saturday, Sept. 30.
Sunico and Arrieta brought Filipino piano wizardry to stages all over the world. “Ritmo at Romansa” with them on two pianos will give today’s generation a taste of their incredible talent. At the same time, it will give their followers a chance to once again experience the unique artistry that their fingers can create.
After obtaining two undergraduate degrees, Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Science in Mathematics cum laude, Sunico continued his studies in the US. He got his Master of Music degree from the Julliard School in New York and his Doctorate in Philosophy, major in Piano Performance from New York University.
Sunico has performed in more than 32 countries and had been honored with numerous awards. In 1979 in Italy, he won the Silver Medal at the Viotti International Piano Competition and was a finalist at the Busoni International Competition. A year later he was awarded the Henry Cowell Prize at the University of Maryland International Piano Competition in the US. He was conferred the Steinway Artist Award in 2019, one of the most coveted prizes in the global piano scene.
Sunico is at present the dean of the St. Paul College of Music and the Performing Arts. He served as president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines from 2010 to 2017 and was dean of the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music from 2002 to 2016.
Arrieta was one of the first graduates of the Philippine High School for the Arts in Makiling. She later studied and graduated with the highest honors from the Moscow Conservatory of Music, where Russian National Artist Yevgeny Malinin was among her teachers. She continued her studies at the Manhattan School of Music and was awarded the Elva Van Gelder Scholarship.
Arrieta won fifth place with the title of Laureate at the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow at the age of 18. She later won first prize at the Jose Iturbi International Piano Competition in Spain.
She made her American debut at the Lincoln Center in New York. She has since then performed at concerts around Europe, the US, and the Philippines. Reviews described her playing as “fevered demonic intensity and gentle sublime introspection” in The New York Times and “a combination of purity and fire” in The Daily News.
Sunico and Arrieta have put together a mix of old and new classical and pop pieces for “Ritmo at Romansa.” Foremost among these are Filipino compositions from the 19th century. Discovered only recently, they will be performed for the first time.
These are the “Simoun Overture” and “Romanza Appasionata” by Juan Hernandez, “Sayaw (Festival Dance)” by Antonio Regalario, “Mandolina” by Jose Estella, “Danse Compestre, ob.11a” by Julio Nakpil, “La Fuerza del Amor” by Diego Perez, and “Kandingan” by Rodolfo Cornejo. “Poeme of more recent vintage” by Carmencita Arambulo is also included.
Sunico and Arrieta are also set to perform some of their favorite pieces like the “Italian Polka” by Sergei Rachmaninoff, “Libertango” by Astor Piazolla, “Gayane Ballet Suite” by Aram Kachaturian, and the “Blue Danube Fantasy” by Johann Strauss.
In a move to popularize Filipino music on the classical concert stage, Sunico and Arrieta have included familiar titles expressly arranged for “Ritmo at Romansa.”
“Ritmo at Romansa” is directed by Monino Duque, presented by Musika Pilipinas, and produced by SATV. Proceeds from the show will benefit the PARC Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the enrichment of education and the arts among young people.
Call +63 917 804 1820.
Saturday, September 9, 2023
Sissel Kyrkjebø - Going Home - 2007
Sissel Kyrkjebø performing "Going Home" at Norwegian Television in 2007.
"Going Home" are based on the Czech composer Antonin Dvorak's famous "Largo" theme from his Symphony No. 9 (From the New World), Op. 95. His symphony was composed while he was in America and was first performed by the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall on December 16, 1893. It has been said that Dvorak's themes in his symphony were inspired by American folk melodies, especially Afro-American or American Indian. The lyrics for "Going Home" was written by one of Dvorak's pupils, William Arms Fisher (1861-1948), who adapted and arranged the Largo theme and added his own words in "the form of a Negro spiritual." This song especially became known as a spiritual after the death of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1940s.
This is part of what Fisher wrote in the published sheet music of his song, "Going Home" (Oliver Ditson Company):
"The Largo, with its haunting English horn solo, is the outpouring of Dvorak's own home-longing, with something of the loneliness of far-off prairie horizons, the faint memory of the red-man's bygone days, and a sense of the tragedy of the black-man as it sings in his "spirituals." Deeper still it is a moving expression of that nostalgia of the soul all human beings feel. That the lyric opening theme of the Largo should spontaneously suggest the words 'Goin' home, goin' home' is natural enough, and that the lines that follow the melody should take the form of a negro spiritual accords with the genesis of the symphony."
-- William Arms Fisher, Boston, July 21, 1922.
Sissel, the international singing sensation and national treasure of Norway, is established as one of the world’s leading crossover sopranos. Her angelic and powerful voice has made Sissel a national institution and she has sung all over the world, selling over ten million solo albums. She has contributed haunting vocal tracks for the soundtrack to Titanic and The Lord of the Rings, and has been performing duets with singers like Charles Aznavour, Andrea Bocelli, Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, Mario Frangoulis, Josh Groban, Brian May, Neil Sedaka, Bryn Terfel and Russell Watson. In 2005, she was knighted by the King of Norway, as the youngest ever to receive this honour. And in 2006, her album 'The Spirit of the Season' with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir went to number-one on the Billboard Classical Charts, and received a Grammy nomination. A very remarkable voice that only comes once in our lifetime.
Somewhere in Time (orchestra version), Conducted by Albert E Moehring
Albert Moehring - Conductor and the Charlotte Philharmonic Orchestra perform the beautiful theme from "Somewhere in Time" featuring Patricia Moehring on the piano. From the PBS special "Tenors in the Spotlight." Taped in Charlotte, NC at the NC Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.
'My Filipino lambs': Mariah Carey shouts out Pinoy fans as Christmas season starts
Kristofer Purnell - Philstar.com
MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos are always so eager to celebrate the Christmas season as soon as September rolls in, even the queen of Christmas songs herself Mariah Carey knows it!
Over the weekend, a fan account dedicated to Mariah posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) that the singer's 1994 holiday hit "All I Want for Christmas is You" had over 316,000 streams on Spotify on September 2, which was a 75% increase from the same day in 2022.
Mariah reposted the account's numbers and said it was too early to say Christmas was incoming, but made an exception for Filipino fans.
"Not yet!!!! I’ll allow it for my Filipino lambs though! (I don’t make the rules!)" Mariah wrote, "lambs" being the name for fans of the 54-year-old singer.
Filipino fans were quick to repost and reply to Mariah's tweet, further emphasizing how much of a Christmas icon she is in the Philippines alongside another Christmas carol royalty Jose Mari Chan.
It can be recalled last year that Mariah continued her streak of personally welcoming the Christmas season on her social media accounts, her most recent attempt transforming from a witch into Santa a day after Halloween.
Mariah last performed in the Philippines in 2018, and Pinoy lambs will be clamoring a return to come soon (preferably during the -Ber months, of course).
Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight [Official Live]
Most Popular Song Each Month in the 60s
Thursday, September 7, 2023
La Mer // Charles Trenet // Lyrics
Scorpions - When you came into my life.mpg
Get lost in love this December with Air Supply
BY MANILA BULLETIN ENTERTAINMENT
Sep 7, 2023 09:42 PM
AT A GLANCE
In 2018, a jukebox musical of their biggest hits, titled 'All Out of Love: The Musical,' opened at the premier entertainment destination. Many fans turned out in force to these shows and sang along with gusto to 'All Out of Love,' 'Making Love Out of Nothing At All,' 'The One that You Love,' 'Even the Nights are Better,' and other romantic and classic gems.
The love of Air Supply for the Philippines never seems to end. Once again, the legendary Australian soft rock duo will have fans gasping with delight as they return to the country for a three-night concert at Newport World Resorts through their endearing and enduring tunes, the romantic rockers bring another ode to the '80s with 'The Lost in Love Experience' concert at the Newport Performing Arts Theater on Dec. 11, 12, and 13, 8 p.m.
The award-winning Newport Performing Arts Theater has become a favorite stop for the pair Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock, who held a two-night sold-out show and swayed audiences on the same stage last year.
In 2018, a jukebox musical of their biggest hits, titled 'All Out of Love: The Musical,' opened at the premier entertainment destination. Many fans turned out in force to these shows and sang along with gusto to 'All Out of Love,' 'Making Love Out of Nothing At All,' 'The One that You Love,' 'Even the Nights are Better,' and other romantic and classic gems.
Keep coming back for more of Air Supply's worldwide hits in "The Lost in Love Experience" concert at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. Only a few tickets remain at all TicketWorld and SM Tickets outlets: P11,000 (Platinum), P10,000 (SVIP), P9,000 (VIP), P7,500 (Gold), P5,000 (Silver), and P2,500 (Bronze).
For inquiries, contact JhayR dela Cruz at 0917 818 9847, Raf Sangco at 0917 807 9387, and Jimmy Iglesias at 0917 872 8734.
Escape the ordinary at Newport World Resorts; you know you want to. For more information on The Lost in Love Manila 2023 concert, visit www.newportworldresorts.com and follow @newportworldresorts on Facebook and Instagram and @nwresorts on Twitter. Make the most of your visit and sign up for an Epic Membership or download the Epic Rewards Mobile App for free at the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra sets next season with new conductor
Kristofer Purnell - Philstar.com
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) gears up for its 39th season under the leadership of a new music director and principal conductor Maestro Grzegorz Nowak.
Nowak previously worked with the PPO in the previous season in a concert held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Main Theater last October before the main building was closed for renovations.
In a press conference held last September 5, Novak said the musicians in the PPO responded well to his raising demands during their practices and sessions, something he found very encouraging.
"It's a big change and move, but the main thing is to build something to be recognized [globally] and we are on our way to achieve that," Nowak added.
Prior to joining the PPO, Nowak was the principal associate conductor of London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the music director of the Polish National Opera, and worked with other orchestras in Germany, Switzerland, the United States, and his native Poland.
For its 39th season bearing the theme "Switch," the PPO will move temporary homes from Manila's Metropolitan Theater to Makati's Samsung Performing Arts Theater while the CCP main building finishes rehabilitation.
All seven concerts will be at 7:30 p.m. with ticket prices ranging from P800 (Balcony 1) to P3,000 (Orchestra Center).
'Switch' rundown
The season begins with "Roman Carnival" on September 15 with Hecot Berlioz's overture of the same name, Edvard Grieg's "Piano Concerto, op.16, A minor," and Ottorino Respighi's "Pini di Roma (Pines of Rome)" featuring British pianist Mark Bebbington as a guest performer.
On October 13 will be "Italian Night" with Felix Mendelssohn's "Italian," Antonín Dvorák's "Cello Concerto," and selected Filipino composition, accompanied by guest Switzerland-based cellist Wen-Sinn Yang.
The third concert "Russian Masters" on November 17 is composed of Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin: Polonaise," Sergei Rachmaninoff's "Piano Concerto, no. 2, op.18, C minor," and selections of Serge Prokofiev's "Romeo & Juliet."
The PPO's holiday performance is "Ode to Joy" on December 8 with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Piano Concerto no. 21, K 467, C major" and Ludwig van Beethoven's "Symphony no. 9, op.125, D minor" — the composer's famous work that adapted Friedrich Schiller's poem "Ode to Joy" — featuring the Philippines' own Raul Sunico on the piano.
The 39th season carries on into 2024 with "Fate" on January 12 consisting of Johannes Brahms' "Piano Concerto no. 1, op.15, D minor," Tchaikovsky's "Symphony no. 4, op.36, F minor," and one commissioned Filipino work, with pianist Jerome Rose as a guest soloist.
The penultimate "Piano Rapture" concert on February 9 will have Poland's Krystian Zimerman as a guest soloist to help perform Stanislaw Maniuszko's "The Fairy Tale Overture," Beethoven's "Piano Concerto no. 4, op.19, Bb major," and Rachmaninoff's "Symphony no. 2, op.27."
As a Valentine's treat, there will be special performances on February 14 and 16 where Zimmerman will be conducting, performing as a soloist, and be part of an ensemble.
Wrapping up PPO's 39th season is "Fete Francaise" with a performance of Gaetano Donizetti's "Don Pasquale." Since it will be a semi-stage opera, auditions for the stage roles will be held in January.
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Jose Mari Chan recalls story behind 'Christmas in our Hearts'
Sep 7, 2023 11:23 AM
AT A GLANCE
Jose Mari also said that he does not like being called the King of Christmas. "There's only one King of Christmas, and that's our Lord Jesus Christ. The baby Jesus. Some people call me Chan-ta Claus."
It's September, and Jose Mari Chan's Christmas carols are playing. But what exactly is Jose Mari doing, and where is he when the "ber" months haven't started yet?
"I'm neither at home nor at work in my business," said Jose Mari, when asked what keeps him busy, during an interview on "Fast Talk With Boy Abunda" on GMA Network recently.
Jose Mari, 78, has been known as "The Father of Philippine Christmas Music" following the release of his blockbuster album "Christmas In Our Hearts" in 1990.
Jose Mari answered about his music-making process. "Almost always, it's the melody. Sometimes I hear that at night, and I tell myself tomorrow morning when I wake up, I will write it down or record it. Almost always at night, the song disappears."
He continued: "That's why, from now on, every time I hear a melody, I have to sing it right away and write it down. So that I won't lose the melody. And then the lyrics come afterward."
Jose Mari also said he had yet to get a vocal coach in his five-decade career.
"I never got a vocal coach. Since I was a little boy, I would sing along to the songs I heard on the radio. I even performed in a children's hour's show in Iloilo City at one time," he said.
As he got older, he admitted that he was also becoming forgetful.
"Before a concert, I would vocalize for almost an hour. I would clear my nose so that I could breathe normally. And then I also have an idiot board because sometimes I forget my lyrics at my age. Sometimes I'm forgetful na," he added.
'Christmas In Our Hearts'
Jose Mari reminisced about the origins of "Christmas In Our Hearts."
"The melody itself was composed in 1988 to a poem by my friend Chari Cruz Zarate, "Ang Tubig Ay Buhay," which she used as a high school jubilee song.
"So I wrote the melody, and I never thought that two years later, I would use that melody for a Christmas song. And Universal Records approached me and said it's time we make a Christmas album because of the success of "Please Be Careful With My Heart," "Beautiful Girl," etc.
"So I thought of that melody, and I got a friend of mine Rina Caniza to come to the house, and I gave her the melody. Together, we worked on the lyrics.
"At that time Lea Salonga was a hit because of Miss Saigon. So I approached her and asked if she could do a duet with me. Sabi niya, 'Yes, I'll be glad, too!' She heard the song and liked the melody, except that her recording company would not allow her to record for a competing label.
"So my next choice was Monique Wilson, an understudy of Miss Saigon. I like her. She's a nice person with a beautiful voice. Unfortunately, she went to Tagaytay and lost her voice. She called me.
"I think the Holy Spirit was leading me towards my daughter Liza. Since Universal Records was rushing, 'Joe, it's October, we need to come up with an album!' I went to my daughter's bedroom and said, 'What are you doing?' She said, 'I was cramming for my exams.' I said, 'Can you learn the song quickly? I want to record this with you. Okay. When? This Wednesday. To make a long story short, she and I went to the recording studio, and the rest is history."
Advice for young musicians
Jose Mari shared his advice with the younger generation of musicians.
"Especially now with the technology change, it's very hard to live on music. That's why my advise to the young composers and singers is that use that as a hobby or on the side but get another career either in law, accounting, or medicine. And then just do music on the side. Don't lose it completely 'cause that's God's gift given to you," he said.
On his memes, Jose Mari said: Natutuwa ako except for this one na medyo irreverent. It showed Saint Joseph and Mother Mary riding a donkey. She was pregnant of course. And then it said, "Jose, Mary, Tyan."
Jose Mari also said that he does not like being called the King of Christmas. "There's only one King of Christmas, and that's our Lord Jesus Christ. The baby Jesus. Some people call me Chan-ta Claus."
Vehnee Saturno
Famous Filipino composer Vehnee Saturno reacted to the advice of Jose Mari on young musicians.
"Tuloy lang. Even Jose Mari Chan is a very good songwriter, a very good singer, and a very successful businessman.
"Pero ang puso kasi ng isang musikero, hindi pera eh. It's not the money kundi yung passion n'ya on what's inside. Ano ba yung magagawa ko? What can I deliver?
"So sa akin, ang masasabi ko lang sa aspiring songwriters, and musicians, tuloy lang. Kung kakayanin.
"But of course totoo naman ang sinasabi ni Jose Mari Chan na kapag wala kang finances, wala kang pampabuhay ng pamilya, mahirap din.
"Think wisely kung paano ka makakatawid doon sa tulay na kahit papaano masaya ka pa rin na even hindi ka equipped with everything. So puso at pagmamahal pa rin sa musika. Yun pa rin ang importante.
"Sabi ng mother ko, when I was starting as a musician, naku anak, hindi ka makakabuhay ng pamilya dyan. That was late 70s noong nakikinig ako ng mga music.
"Pero sabi ko gagawin ko talaga yung makakaya ko, at talagang nagsikap ako. First and second attempts ko sa Metropop wala. And then noong 1982, I was able to write a song 'Isang Dakot.' Ang inspiration ko noon mga squatter's area na pinagbintangan. During that time, paparating si Pope. So yung mga squatters area pinapuntahan. Parang naawa ako sa mga Pilipino parang ganun. Pero sabi ko susulat ako ng isang kanta, yung iyak ng isang mahirap na maramdaman na sila ay may puwang sa society," he said.
"Isang Dakot" won the best composition at the 1982 Metro Manila Popular Music Festival.
Vehnee is also the composer behind the monster OPM hits "Be My Lady," "Sana Kahit Minsan," "Mula Sa Puso," "Till My Heartaches End," "Bakit Pa?" Wala Na Bang Pag-Ibig," "Forever's Not Enough," and more.
Jeri Violago
Rising singer Jeri Violago also reacted to the advice of Jose Mari.
"Family friend namin si Mr. Jose Mari Chan. It depends on where you're coming from. Mr. Jose Mari Chan is very established. When you think of Christmas, you think of Jose Mari Chan. Because of that, he has a lot of exposure and endorsements. It's not just music, but he has different businesses. I think if you're passionate about something and you see yourself becoming what you believe, through your support system, I think it's something that you can push through," said Jeri, who will release his two songs entitled "Gusto Kita," and Ipapangako Ko," both composed by Vehnee, under Tarsier Records.
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