A whole new world for Lea Salonga
Ruben V. Nepales
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Publication Date : 14-07-2008



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

Filipino singer Lea Salonga earned a standing ovation at the end of her historic concert on Friday evening (July 11) 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.

Another milestone
The performer reciprocated the audience’s standing ovation at the end of her set with two encore numbers, Tomorrow and Someone’s Waiting For You.

The concert also marked another milestone.

It was the first show in a series of concerts titled 'Global Pop at the Music Centre' which features popular performers from around the world.

The series was launched by The Blue Ribbon Foundation of the Music Center, of which the Walt Disney Concert Hall is a part, as a way of tapping the artists that represent the diverse communities of Los Angeles.

The Blue Ribbon Foundation president spoke before the concert began, saying that the volunteer group was thrilled to present the “incredibly talented” Salonga as the first performer in its Global Pop series.

The Friday night show attracted a diverse audience to the concert hall for the first time. Many Filipinos said that it was their first time to be at the Music Center complex.

Memories of Carnegie Hall
They trooped from various parts of southern California to watch the only Filipino artist who made a clean sweep of the Olivier, Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics and Theatre World Awards perform in a world-class setting acclaimed for its superb acoustics.

The show echoed Salonga’s debut at New York’s famed Carnegie Hall in 2005. Filipino community leaders, including Joel Jacinto and Winston Emano, helped organise the historic concert.

Since it opened in 2003 as the new home of the LA Philharmonic Orchestra, the Walt Disney Concert Hall has drawn visitors from different countries who are eager to see Gehry’s gleaming architectural gem. Visitors flock to the unique, shimmering structure every day and take pictures of the building from different angles.

Recent Hollywood movies such as Iron Man and Get Smart also featured the concert hall in important scenes.

At the after-concert reception at The Edison, a posh club in downtown Los Angeles, Salonga received congratulations from the guests.