As this is the third in the concert series of Ryan Cayabyab’s MaestroClass at the Proscenium Theater; it’s no stretch of the imagination to dub the Theater as Ryan’s house.
It all started last November, we had the second in February, and the third is ongoing, from May 15 to 17. And just trust me, if you still have a chance to catch the May 17th leg, don’t let the opportunity pass by. It’s like entering a house of music, and discovering you’re home.
Titled, "What’s It All About," the concert celebrates the music and songs of the late Burt Bacharach, who passed away in 2023. Special guests of National Artist Ryan Cayabyab for this concert are Bituin Escalante, Gigi de Lana, Jett Pangan, and Sofronio Vasquez. Not only are they all powerhouse voices, but they interpret the songs of Burt, and the lyrics of Hal David, with such emotion, texture, and depth.
National Artist Ryan Cayabyab after the concert, with his sister-in-law, Bella, and wife, Emmy.
And you don’t have to be my age to know and love the songs of Burt Bacharach. They’re played to this day, young artists have their own cover versions, they’re revived in the soundtracks of today’s films, and they just hang around in the ether - with those of a younger generation just knowing the tunes, often times without realizing they were penned by Bacharach.
The movie themes of Bacharach include those of "Butch Cassisdy & the Sundance Kid," and "Arthur"; and then you have his eternal muse, Dionne Warwick, and the songs we associate with her. A wonderful selection of these tunes became part of the evening’s playlist. The audience loved the songs, singing along without a need for the lyrics to be flashed on a screen.
Gigi de Lana
One suite of songs, Ryan introduced as the neurotic love songs that Burt popularized and these interpretation brought the house down. There was Bito’s "One Less Bell to Answer," Gigi and her "A House Is Not A Home," Sofronio’s "The Look Of Love" - also a theme song as it comes from the James Bond film, "Casino Royale." And then there was Jett with his rendition of "God Give Me Strength," the famous ballad that was written by Bacharach with Elvis Costello; and was covered by Bette Midler.
Other highlights for me include the duet of Gigi and Jett of "I’ll Never Fall in Love Again," and Gigi’s solo version of "This Guy’s In Love With You." Jett’s "Alfie" was a stand out, and the four on "What The World Needs Now," and "That’s What Friends Are For," will echo through the night as you leave the theater.
This concert series has been about creating a string sense of community, with the performers on the stage and the audience bonding, and making the theater a virtual home for everyone. Don’t miss out!
