The rehearsals and anticipated concert of ‘CCP Out of the Box Series: Isang Gabi ng Sarsuwela’
You know it’s a good concert when the performers have all the fun while doing their rehearsals.
Of course, there will always be seriousness – and the pressure, if I may add – to perform well without glitches, deliver their lines with all knowledge they have researched beforehand to bring to life the scenes, and sing their parts with all emotions to make them resonate with the audience.
But fun should always be there.
When I dropped by at one of the rehearsals of the CCP Out of the Box Series: Isang Gabi ng Sarsuwela, the stellar cast would have moments to laugh, indulge in some banter, and engage in light-hearted conversations in between learning their songs.
But anyone who has seen these performers know how they take their jobs and roles seriously, amid the light-hearted moments.
In fact, when I spoke to Reuben Laurente during one of their short rehearsal breaks, he shared that they were supposed to be just doing three songs, and chorus parts, during their first rehearsal. But it turned out that everyone did their assignments and learned their songs so they ended up doing a run-through of the whole show instead.
“It is really a different experience working with professional theater performers and seasoned artists. Ginagawa ‘yung assignments. Nung first rehearsal, hindi lang tatlong ang na-rehearse namin, ‘yung buong show na. After the rehearsal, sabi ni direk Dennis [Marasigan], ‘We have a show.’ It’s really an honor to be part of this production,” said Laurente.
He believes that every singer, performer is an integral part of the production. “Hearing from the director as great as Dennis Marasigan that he personally picked us to perform in Sarsuwela, nakakataba ng puso,” shared Laurente.
And what a great choice of the stellar cast it was. With Nenen Espina who has done several sarsuwela before, real-life couples Franco Laurel and Ayen Munji Laurel and Shiela Valderrama Martinez and Lorenz Martinez who bring a different kind of chemistry to the show, with Jonathan Tadioan who is a seasoned actor, and Karylle Tatlonghari who has been successfully making her mark in the musical scene – what more could anyone ask for?
And then there’s Laurente who crosses borders from pop to recording, theater, and now the concert scene.
He started out singing when he was five and made his world premiere as a performer singing Read Your Bible, Pray Everyday at the sanctuary of The United Church of the Good Shepherd on Christmas Eve of 1973.
Through his encouraging parents Dominador and Gilda Laurente, he started honing his gift by joining the school and church choirs and competing in amateur singing contests around Mandaluyong and San Juan, and eventually on national radio and television.
If you don’t know, he was part of the vocal group The CompanY. As he embarked on a solo career, Laurente recorded five solo studio albums with various gospel and pop record labels from 1995 to 2012.
In 2018, after a six-year hiatus in the Philippine music industry, he released his first digital single “You’re My Home,” a revival of an Odette Quesada ‘80s hit. A year after, in 2019, he released another digital single “Ang Pinakamagandang Awit.”
Performing on stage is not new to Laurente. He performed Lakshmana in 1990’s staging of Rama Hari, Danny Newman in LIVES, Pilo in Himala, The Musical, and the First Man and Manama in The Tales of the Manuvu in March, 2019.
But it would be the first time he would be performing a sarsuwela. He admitted that this is quite challenging because sarsuwela is usually sung by classically trained artists.
“I’m a pop singer. Although I trained under the late tenor Nolyn Cabahug, it will be pop-opera for me. Di ako mag-aambisyon na tumunog classical kung tutunog hilaw naman. Aawit ako mula sa puso,” said Laurente.
When asked what would be his favorite song among the pieces he would be performing, he mentioned about “Huwag Ka Ngang Makabuwisit” from the sarsuwela Sa Bunganga ng Pating, which he would be performing with Espina. He would also be doing a duet with Karylle, singing “Hanggang Walang Hanggan” from the sarsuwela Ang Palasyo ni Valentin.
One of his concerns for the performance was – most sarsuwela were often sung without a mic. But having heard his concern, the production decided to at least have floor mics.
“I had a vocal chords operation in 2021. I have utmost confidence in our Lord, and to my doctor. Thankfully, bumalik ang boses ko. And I’m able to perform and sing again,” shared Laurente.
He continued: “I really believe in the Lord, who is our Creator. Whatever he wills for us will happen. I believe that everything happens for a reason. That, for me, is very biblical. May mga bagay akong ginusto before pero hindi nangyayari. It is easy for me to let go of the challenges, the struggles, the emotional pains and embrace them when I think that God has a purpose for me, that He has a greater plan for me. At 54, I still have opportunities.”
I definitely agree. During our conversation, maybe God still wants to use his voice to reach out to more people, and perhaps there’s a solo concert in the future.
“In Jesus name, I claim it, and thanks for declaring it for me. Words are power. Gusto ko. I know it will happen in this lifetime, but I just don’t know when. May magsabi lang na producer, gagawin natin yan,” beamed Laurente.
I do hope his concert will happen soon. With his multi-talents and caliber, he’s ripe for that. Maybe a concert where he would sing songs and have his artworks (yes, he is also a visual artist) on display in the background.
Is there anything he still wants to do?
“I’m doing cruise performances in August. May ibang fulfillment naman ‘yun. If I have a dream, I want to be part of another performance act which will showcase Filipinonism.”
He added: “I’m an advocate of our rich cultural heritage. This is the reason I said yes to Sarsuwela. It is a new repertoire for me. Kayamanan sa puso, isip at kaluluwa ko bilang Pilipino. I would want this to be a platform to disseminate information through music, through this show.”
It’s easy to sing, but artists should make a conscious effort to know the context, the stories and history behind the songs they are singing. I really hope people, especially the young ones, will see and experience Sarsuwela.
As Laurente said, “I hope there are songs that would resonate with them, songs that would strike them.”
Catch CCP Out of the Box Series: Isang Gabi ng Sarsuwela on June 30 and July 1, at the Tanghalang Ignacio B. Gimenez (CCP Blackbox Theater), CCP Complex, Pasay City.