let us entertain

My male cousin is known in showbusiness, so much so that if I finally drop my name in this blog, you'll know who he is. Or who my uncle is (his father) because both are in the same biz.

But, thank God, there is another family member, altho she is known for the same talent, she isn't in showbiz. But she is equally famous but to an exclusive circle known as the Madz (UP Madrigal Singers). She is so good in her craft that she became Imelda Marcos' favorite opera singer.

She's my Tita Bess who's been based in the US for a long time now.

She came home recently to join her Madz family last Sunday at the Philam auditorium. Many of the clan were there to give her family support.

The blue computer print out that served as the concert's program described Tita Bess, to wit:

Bess was a member of the Philippine Madrigal Singers from 1969-1974. She studied voice under Prof. Andrea O. Veneracion and the late Aurelio Stanislao. She has played the lead role in Madame Butterfly in 1973 at CCP, Marsinah (Kismet) in 1973 and the lead role in the 1989 staging of Walang Sugat zarzuela in Guam. Presently, she is studying voice with Cynthia Munzer, mezzo-soprano who had many roles at New York's Metropolitan Opera including one with L. Pavarroti and currently Professor at University of Southern California's F.L. Thornton School of Music.

She sang O Mio Babbino Caro (from Gianni Schicci), Mi Chiamano Mimi (from La Boheme), Un Bel Di Vedremo (from Madame Butterfly) and Mutya ng Pasig.

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kids should know that...

The Philippine Madrigal Singers was organized as the University of the Philippines Madrigal Singers in 1963 by Prof. Andrea Veneracion, proclaimed National Artist for Music in 1999. The group is composed of students, faculty and alumni from the different colleges of the University of the Philippines. The group performs a variety of styles and forms but specializes in the madrigal, a polyphonic and challenging musical style popular during the Renaissance where singers and guests would gather around the table during a banquet to sight-sing and make music together. This served as the inspiration for their unique style of singing - singing seated in a semi-circle without a conductor. (wikipedia)