Lend an ear to the Tribu performers of the Ephesus Teatron Group, who will greet Independence Day with a concert of Philippine music—classical, folk, patriotic or simply entertaining. This was announced at a recent press conference at Sikat Studios, Quezon City.

The artists are well versed in the classical repertoire and musical theater. The six singers are Red Nuestro (tenor), Margarita Roco (lyric soprano), Steven Hotchkies (baritone), Terence Guillermo (tenor), Sweet Samaniego Buchanan (coloratura soprano) and Only Torres (baritone).

The group’s pianist is Kim Dominik Sarmiento of the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music and group manager is actor Jeremy Domingo, a Repertory Philippines mainstay.

During the press launch, the Tribu artists performed, with brio and gusto, singing and dancing, Santiago Suarez’s “Bakya Mo Neneng,” A. Madrigal’s “Bayan Ko’y Ikaw Pilipinas,” and A. Del Rosario’s rollicking “Kalesa” (with lyics by National Artist Levi Celerio) .

The concert will be held on June 11, 7 p.m., and June 12, 3 and 7 p.m., at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City.

Act I of the concert describes the “land, soul, climate, animals and people” of the Philippines, from the playful “Pen Pen de Sarapen” and “Leron Leron Sinta” to San Pedro’s plaintive “Unggoy ng Duyan” and the Visayan lullabay “Ili Ili Tulog Anay.” There will be songs from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Act II will feature, apart from the familiar patriotic anthems like De Guzman’s “Bayan Ko,” Santiago’s “Pilipinas Kong Mahal,” and San Pedro’s “Sa Mahal Kong Bayan,” less known songs (to the general public) like

“Alerta, Katipunan!,” “Canto de Maria Clara” and “Pagibig sa Tinubuang Lupa,” from a poem by Bonifacio. The songs were arranged by Philippine Stagers Foundation composer Pipo Cifra and Buchanan.

During the open forum, the performers said they wanted to reach out to millennials and offset the “old-school image” of the songs. “Once upon a time these folk songs were pop songs, and we are singing it now in a different way,” Buchanan said. —CONTRIBUTED

Tel. 0947-2985003.