Filipinos once more are indeed proven world-class.
It has always been our image here and abroad.
It's not only skin-deep, it is as profound as a deep-blue sea.
Name an artist in any field and wonder not only works but core performance as well.
I was a lucky witness to have seen a super beautiful performance of a group of male and female singers when I was invited by a former member of the Philippine Madrigal Singers (Madz) and President of the National Association of Filipino Choirs, Inc. (NAFCI) Robert Delgado to come and watch the send-off concert of this current sensation in choral singing, Imusicapella, at the Don Bosco Church in Makati City recently.
The concert was billed as "Exauxdivit," a night of spiritual music and popular tunes as well.
In the beginning, liturgical hymns were sang by these cherubs of celestially blended voices whose conductor Tristan Caliston Ignacio was passionately leading their highly charged musical spirits.
After a series of classical if not solemn anthems in Latin and other archaic languages, contemporary and popular English and Filipino songs were interpreted by the powerful and collective voices of Cavitenos and Cavitenas.
Oh, boy!
They were all well-applauded and cheered.
One of the most appreciated interpretations, though, was the arrangement of Delgado of the classical pop ditty, "It's Impossible." The group gave rousing interpretation of "Somos Novios," an original song in Spanish composed by artist Armando Manzanero and translated into English, "It's Impossible" by musician Sid Wayne and commercially recorded by Perry Como.
There were also original Filipino songs fleshed out by the group, one of them a composition by Nilo Alcala, which was amazingly interpreted by the group.
I asked Tristan Caliston if all the members of the choir were all from Imus, Cavite.
"Hindi po. May mga taga-(No. There are those from the) neighboring towns," informed Ignacio.
Imusicapella has gone a long way.
Don't you know that they will officially represent the Philippines in the forthcoming 2025 European Grand Prix Choral Singing in Tolosa, Spain?
One of the local singing groups that competed in the coveted title was the Ateneo Chamber Singers which placed a well-recognized post in the contest.
No Philippine has won in the prestigious search?
Will it be Imusicapella this time?
"We hope to win. We will do our best," said Tristan.
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