La Mer with Manila Glee Club Holds Twilight Concert 2014
Two flags were raised last December 6 at the BDO South Tower’s Francisco Santiago Hall as the La Mer Choral Group in partnership with Manila Glee Club held the Twilight Concert 2014, one of a series of concerts they have been having through the years.
Garbed in clothing inspired by the traditional Filipiniana, the La Mer choral group, composed of talented Japanese women, kicked off the concert with a cheery Japanese rendition of “Hi-Ho” from the Disney film Snow White. To the sound of the piano, their voices wonderfully blend together like milk and coffee. The La Mer choral group also dramatically performed Tagalog song “Bayan Ko”. Their next performances were festive and mellow Japanese songs which they sang with gentle, smiling faces, each song leaving the audience hanging on their seats wondering what tune will serenade them next.
The next performers were that of the predominantly male Manila Glee Club also donned in the traditional Filipino clothing for men, the Barong Tagalog. Formed 11 years ago in December 2003, the Manila Glee Club is mostly composed of Japanese company employees. The first three songs they performed were Japanese songs “What I Dream” which was composed by a popular choral composer. The second piece they performed was “Be Excited” a song that reflected the excitement in the glee club’s daily lives. The last of the first three songs, “Farewell Snow” gives off feelings of a painful farewell. One of the highlights of their performance would be their singing of one of the Philippine’s most popular songs during Christmas time, “Pasko na Sinta Ko”. This was followed by traditional Japanese song “Saitara-bushi”.
La Mer and the Manila Glee Club then joined together on stage for a Japanese song and popular Christmas tune “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town”. Performances from Flutist Mariko Obata and the Manila Chamber Music Ensemble followed.
As the concert approached its end, the audience was once again serenaded by the La Mer choral group, this time starting with another Disney tune “A Whole New World” in English. It was then followed with the Japanese version of another recent Disney song “Let It Go”, a song and dance performance of a Japanese song, and Japanese versions of various Christmas songs. The concert was capped off with a song performance of “Silent Night”.
Sponsored by Banco de Oro Unibank, The Twilight Concert 2014 was definitely an enjoyable experience that blended both Japanese and Filipino cultures through music. It is truly something to look forward to next year. Proceeds from the concert will be given to the ERDA Foundation, an NGO whose goal is to enable street children to go back to school.
Written by: Carol Premacio, contributor
