Standing ovation in historic concert

Standing ovation for Lea Salonga in historic concert.

She has long made her mark as an international artist. Still, it was as if she had captivated a whole new world.


Lea Salonga earned a standing ovation at the end of her historic concert on Friday evening at Los Angeles’ iconic architectural landmark and world-class performing arts venue, the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

A sold-out crowd cheered Salonga as she became the first Filipino performer to have a solo show at architect Frank Gehry’s billowing steel-clad masterpiece.

Through Salonga’s crystal-clear voice, Filipino lyrics of such OPM standards like “Hahanapin Ko” by Jimmy Santiago (music by Jose Mari Chan); “Sana Maulit Muli” by Gary and Angeli Valenciano; and “Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal” by Alex Malilin reverberated inside the beautiful wood-paneled hall.

The normally staid venue—home of the world-renowned Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra—came to life as the mostly Filipino audience, encouraged by Salonga, sang along to the Filipino songs.

Salonga’s rendition of songs that have distinguished her multi-awarded career, including “Reflection,” “I’d Give My Life For You,” “On My Own” and “I Dreamed a Dream,” earned thunderous applause.

A volunteer from the audience, who identified himself as Cliff, received the evening’s first standing ovation. The American, randomly picked by Salonga from the audience, was surprisingly good in singing with the singer her popular duet, “A Whole New World,” the Oscar-nominated theme song from Disney’s animated hit, “Aladdin.”

Backed by an orchestra of 19 musicians, Salonga also made the crowd swoon with her versions of “The Way You Look Tonight,” “Someone to Watch Over Me,” “Taylor the Latte Boy,” “Imagine” and “Everybody Says Don’t.”

As a preview of her coming show “Cinderella,” which opens at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on July 29, Salonga delivered a spirited performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “There’s Music in You.”

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By Ruben V. Nepales
Philippine Daily Inquirer
source: showbizandstyle.inquirer.net