A family’s legacy of timeless music

The Von Trapp children are coming to town. Although fans of The Sound of Music would really want to see and hear the kids they saw portrayed in the movie, that is not possible anymore. The story happened during World War II. What we will get are their descendants, who have continued the family’s music legacy.

Arriving will be Sofia who is 18; Melanie, 16; Amanda, 15 and Justin, 12. They are the grandchildren of Werner von Trapp, who was portrayed as the boy Kurt in the musical. They are therefore the great grandchildren of Captain Georg Ritter von Trapp.

Captain von Trapp was the widower with seven children who married the postulant turned governess Maria. They fled to the US when the Nazis invaded Austria and it was there that the Von Trapp Family Singers officially became a performing group.

Their story attracted the attention of America’s leading Broadway composers, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. The team was also responsible for The King and I, Oklahoma, Carousel, Flower Drum Song, and many others. The result was The Sound of Music, one of the most loved musicals of all time.

Showbiz lore says the Austrians were not really hot about the musical. They felt the story was too sugar-coated and did not tell what really happened. Austria, has of course turned around and admitted it is useless to argue with success. One of its leading tourist attractions these days is The Sound of Music Tour which includes visits to locations used in the movie and places associated with the real-life Von Trapps.

The musical is also being constantly revived on stage. I recall a Broadway version a few years ago where TV star Richard Chamberlain played Captain Von Trapp. Recent news reports say Andrew Lloyd Webber of Phantom of the Opera fame is staging a revival in London soon. He held on-air auditions in search for an actress to play Maria via a reality talent show. You know something like Rockstar: INXS but in search of a Sound of Music leading lady.

The movie, which starred Julie Andrews is an even bigger blockbuster. Released 40 years ago, it is hailed as one of the greatest motion pictures of all time and it is why most kids today know who the Von Trapps are.

Like their forebears, the new generation Von Trapps boasts of sweet beautiful voices and are much sought after performers. They were chosen as Outstanding Singing Group at the 2005 Young Artist Awards and have also appeared on stage as the kids in what else but The Sound of Music.

Constantly on tour, audiences everywhere thrill to their versions of Edelweiss, The Lonely Goatherd and Do-Re-Mi. They also do other songs like the recent pop hit When You Believe, folk songs like Scarborough Fair and Danny Boy plus spirituals like Swing Low, Sweet Chariot and My Old Kentucky Home, the first song that their grandparents learned when they came to the US.

Pinoys will get the chance to find out for themselves how good they sound with The Von Trapp Children Concert will be held at the Plenary Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center at 8 p.m. on Oct. 6. Ticket prices are P2,000, P1,500, P1,000 and P500. There will be another performance at the Premiere Theater of the SM Mall of Asia at 7 p.m. on Oct. 7. Tickets here are priced at P2,000 and P1,500.

MTV Europe Music Awards nominees

Meanwhile, leading lights of American and European pop music will converge in Copenhagen, Denmark on Nov. 2 for the 13th annual MTV Europe Music Awards. Regarded as music’s biggest event, this will be hosted by Justin Timberlake who is also up for two of the major awards.

International acts nominated this year are:

Male: Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, Pharrell, Robbie Williams and Sean Paul.

Female: Beyoncé, Christina Aguilera, Madonna, Nelly Furtado and Shakira.

Group: Black Eyed Peas, Depeche Mode, Keane, Pussycat Dolls and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Rock: Evanescence, Keane, The Killers, Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Strokes.

Hip Hop: Busta Rhymes, Kanye West, Missy Elliott, P Diddy and Sean Paul.

Alternative: Artic Monkeys, Korn, Muse, The Raconteurs and System of a Down.

R&B: Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, Outkast, Pharrell and Rihanna.

Pop: Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Madonna, Robbie Williams and Shakira.

Song: Gnarls Barkley, Crazy; Nelly Furtado, Maneater; Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dani California; Rihanna, SOS and Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean, Hips Don’t Lie.

Album: Christina Aguilera, Back to Basics; Madonna, Confessions on a Dance Floor; Muse, Black Holes and Revelations; Nelly Furtado, Loose and Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stadium Arcadium.

Video: Gnarls Barkley, Crazy; Justice vs Simian, We Are Your Friends; Kanye West, Touch The Sky; OK Go, A Million Ways and Pink, Stupid Girls.

Watch out for the telecast in the local MTV channel.