The young conservatory-trained talents tackled Filipino songs from the early 20th century to the present, a discipline now loosely referred to as Original Filipino Music (OPM). They attacked the songs, solo, in duet or all three, accompanied by a pianist also formally trained, adjusted their voices and disregarded the florid, expressionist style demanded by opera.
And the results were, by and large, felicitous.
The event was “OPM Revisited,” zestfully subtitled “Mga Awit na may Hugot,” back-to-back concerts recently held in Baguio City, at the watering hole simply called Canto, with its delicious Filipino-Spanish cuisine, and at Teatro Amianan, University of the Philippines (UP) Baguio.
The organizers were Guacamole Productions Baguio and Cultural Arts Events Organizer (CAEC), with support from National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and other partner agencies.
The performers were Kay Balajadia Liggayu, soprano; Jasmin Salvo, soprano; Jan Brian Ashtom, tenor; and Paul Casiano, pianist.
Liggayu is a veteran of the Manila operatic stage and musical theater. Salvo is finishing her studies at University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music under renowned tenor Lemuel de la Cruz.
A pianist until he injured his left hand, Ashtom took up voice lessons at UP College of Music and is a student of leading tenor Arthur Espiritu. Pianist Casiano is a graduate, magna cum laude, of the UP College of Music.
The world of opera was represented by the aria “Paalam” from De Leon’s “Noli me Tangere.” Composers ranged from Fulgencio Tolentino (“Walang Sugat”) to Ryan Cayabyab (“Katy!”). Always a hit was the rib-tickling (literally) duet “Ako’y Nakikiliti.”
Achingly beautiful were the love songs “Minsan ang Minahal ay Ako” (Cayabyab) and “Sana’y Wala nang Wakas” (Willy Cruz).
Following the success of “OPM Revisited,” producers Guacamole and CAEO will present iconic pianist Cecile Licad in Camp John Hay on Dec. 6 (all-Chopin), and a concert of time-honored songs from Hollywood movies in January. –CONTRIBUTED
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