The Opera 20 years later

It was a time of political uncertainty. The year was 1986 (note: EDSA Revolution). Four, young and restless graduates of the UP Diliman – Sushi, Zebedee, Manolo and yours truly (all musically honed at the UP Concert Chorus) – thought it was time to form an authentic and versatile Filipino musical quartet, one that could do pop, jazz, R ’n B, upbeat, and even classical songs with ease but maintaining the highest level of performance. A meeting was set in my mom’s house at Scout Lozano in Quezon City. And, the Opera was born.

We needed a manager. We sought no less than the best – Sandra Chavez of Classified Entertainment – then the manager of the crème dela crème of the music world (such as Kuh Ledesma and the Music and Magic, Zsa Zsa Padilla and Gary Valenciano). She instantly liked us and we were thrown into a whirlwind of activities – workshops with Jet Montelibano, rehearsals, fittings with top fashion designer Ruben Nazareth and pictorials. And, the launching of the Opera was set.

June 21, 1986 – Tavern on the Square (the original) – The Opera makes its first public appearance. Opening number was Kyrie Eleison. Finalé was Rock Me Amadeus. Encore! Encore! My goodness, we were good! No, we were spectacular! The music industry got excited. Here was the Philippines’ answer to Manhattan Transfer! These four young people not only looked great! They could all even be soloists! They could all speak fluent, intelligent English, too!

But, we didn’t want to be stars. Nor did we endeavor to earn dollars abroad. We just wanted to blend our voices to make rich, melodic harmony, highlighted in beautiful vocal arrangements to be rendered with sophisticated virtuosity. We loved the challenge. But, came the perks! We were not stars, but we got the perks! We became the front act, back-up vocalists, and intermission numbers for celebrity singers. Young, star-struck me suddenly found myself rubbing elbows with the most popular singers in the country. Young, star-struck me got to see well-admired celebrities in rollers and without makeup. Young, star-struck me discovered the human follies of my singing idols. Young, star-struck me became immune to stars and began seeing them as normal individuals after all.

November, 1986 – My lawyer boyfriend of four years proposes to marry me. April 4, 1987 – Manila Hotel – I sing with the Opera for the last time. It is my wedding reception.

No problem with that. We all continued to be the best of friends. (In fact, I became ninang to Sushi’s lovely daughter later on.) The other original three – Sushi, Zebedee and Manolo found soprano Lisa Cabahug (sister of well-known tenor Nolyn Cabahug; also from the UP Concert Chorus). Then, came Angel Suguitan (Miss Saigon, Germany). Then, came Cecile. And, the musicality of the Opera fluorished for the next 17 years.

With Cecile, the Opera made sure to make its mark in the entertainment scene as a quartet of remarkable artistry and performing prowess. In the years that followed, they became part of the most accomplished singers in the country. Slowly, they gained enthusiastic following in venues like Birdland, Music Museum and well-known hotel music lounges. They performed and continue to perform with virtually every name artist who matters most in the local scene from icons like Celeste Legaspi, Kuh Ledesma, Verni Varga, Martin Nievera, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Pops Fernandez, Regine Velasquez, Jaya, Lani Misalucha, Ogie Alcasid, Janno Gibbs and Vina Morales, to the young stars Sarah Geronimo, Mark Bautista, Rachelle Ann Go, Kyla, and Jay-R…(among others!), and even with foreign artists like Noel Pointer, David Benoit, Kevyn Lettau, and Pauline Wilson.

June 21, 2006 – The Opera’s 20th anniversary – The Opera members are still most sought after as session vocalists for live concerts, TV musical variety shows, recordings and commercial jingles, and as vocal coaches and arrangers. Cecile is the vocal coach of PopStar Kids and Search for a Star in a Million. Sushi is the vocal coach for Pinoy Pop Superstar and Search For A Star; the producer behind the highly successful Crossover Presents series of shows; and, the owner and chef of Sanctuario in Tagaytay City which has been recently recognized by the Philippine Tattler as one of the best restaurants in the Philippines. (She also runs the Sanctuario deli [mmm!] at Tiendesitas.). Zebedee just finished recording his album with Viva Records as a solo artist and is a vocal coach and arranger for upcoming singing stars. Apart from singing, Manolo is co-owner of Bed – the hottest dance club in Malate and Rainbow Project, also in Malate – which he co-owns with Opera adopted member Jaya – (whom they have accompanied in US and European concert tours like Regine Velasquez) and another resto/bar in the offing in the Morato area.

June 30, 2006 – Alegria Lounge, Manila Pavilion Hotel – The Opera provides back-up vocals for a fundraising concert for poor but deserving Kamuning Elementary School students with artists that included Nonoy Zuñiga, Jenine Desiderio, Marco Sison, and Juan Rodrigo. I focus my attention on the Opera. My goodness! After all these years, they are still so good! No. They are still spectacular!

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