Encore ... TenoRRific: Abdul Candao

Davao born tenor Abdul won first prize in 1982 at the "National Music Competition for young artists" in Manila while he was a member of the Philippine Saring-Himig under his first voice teacher, Mr. George Hernandez. During this time, he was also part of the Kayumangging Kaligatan, a seven-member vocal ensemble under the late artist Professor Ernani Cuenco.

Later, be came a student and personal scholar of Professor Irma Potenciano at the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music. Abdul earned his Diploma from the Opera Class of the "Vienna Conservatory of Music" in 1995 under KS Waldemar Kmentt and has studied with KS Walter Berry and Maestro Yahan Mirkain.

His first job after graduation was "Baron Hueber" in the Austrian musical "Elisabeth" at the Theater an der Wien. Since then, he sung opera, operetta, and concerts in Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the US.

He sang the solo tenor part in Reichhardt's "Te Deum" at the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna; the male solo from the oratorio "Eversmiling Liberty" at the Mozartsaal of the Wiener Konzerthaus; "Land des Lächelns" at the Brucknerhaus in Linz,Austria; and sang regularly for the "Salute of Vienna" - New Year's concerts in Canada.

Some of Abdul's representative roles include: Cavaradossi, Chareauneuf, Faust,Ferando, the Governor in "Candide", "Graf von Luxenburg", Max the Prince in "Rusalka", Radames, and "Der Zarewitsch". Abdul has created two leading roles in the operas "Jush-Tush" and "Arrest" in Vienna.

In 2008 followed the "Cavaradossi" at the Teatro Castro Alves in Salvador, Brazil. In 2009, he has appeared at the Burgtheater in Vienna, the Staatsoper in Munich as well as the Muziktheater in Amsterdam in Chrisoph Schlingensief's "Mea Culpa".

In 2010 he sang the "Barber of Seville" in Salzburg, Austria. In 2011 he sang at the Osterkiang Festival of the Theater an der Wien in Bernstein's "Mass". In January 2012, he sang Prince Sou Chong" at the Grosses Festspielhaus in Salzburg, Austria. That same year, he sang "Don Jose" in the latest production of "Carmen" in Manila directed bu Laurice Guillen.

Last night's concert in Davao City included compositions by G. Meyerbeer, G. Verdi, F. Cilea, J. Lacalle, Franz Lehar and A. Lara as well as Wright's "Stranger in Paradise" (Kismet), Newley's "What kind of fool am I" ("Stop the World" and Silos' "Lagi sa isang bulaklak" and "Dahil sa isang bulaklak" and Cuenco's "Bato sa buhangin", "Balikbayan", and "Gaano ko ikaw kamahal".

Finale: "O Holy Night" ...