The Il Divo Christmas Collection

Il Divo, the most fabulous sounding boy group ever created, is set to perform at the Plenary Hall of the PICC on Jan. 20, 2007 in what promises to be a truly glamorous event. Music loving Pinoys are in for a real treat with this one because the members of Il Divo do not only sing like angels, they also look like handsome heroes.

Most of you out there already know the story of how Il Divo came to be. Simon Cowell, the acerbic but oh so knowledgeable judge at the reality show American Idol decided that he wanted to put together a boy group. But it must not be anything like the others around. The members must not only have great voices but should also look like they came out of the pages of a glamorous magazine.

Cowell’s search encompassed the world and after countless interviews and auditions, four young men were chosen. Il Divo is made up of David Miller, tenor from the US, Carlos Marin, a baritone from Spain, Sebastien Izambard from France the vox populi of the group, which I guess means that he provides the pop tones in their vocals and Urs Buhler another tenor from Switzerland.

And there is no better way to prepare for this wondrous experience than to listen to the music of Il Divo. I do not think any of these songs will be performed at the concert. But because it is so right for the Season and because Christmas music sounds more moving and profound when sang by classically trained voices, my top choice is The Il Divo Christmas Collection. If you think The Three Tenors and Andrea Bocelli are too heavy for your taste but you still like your Christmas music grand and filled with reverence for the celebration then this is the album for you.

The guys ditched the pop mood that characterized their earlier two albums and went out for church songs and traditional carols. The most pop they got was with Bing Crosby’s White Christmas and the surprising addition of Judy Garland’s Over the Rainbow. The other cuts are O Holy Night, Ave Maria, Adeste Fidelis (O Come All Ye Faithful), Panis Angelicus, Rejoice, Silent Night and The Lord’s Prayer. Best one of all is a rousing version of When a Child is Born.

Also released a few days ago is Siempre, the new and the third pop CD by Il Divo. The sound here is closer to the group’s breakthrough hit Il Divo and the even bigger follow-up Ancora. Moving, romantic, so pure in tone, this is Il Divo’s best so far. I would have wanted them to rock things a bit but let us leave that for the future. Includes Nights in White Satin, Caruso, Without You (Desde El Dia Que Te Fuiste), Come Primavera, Un Regalo Que Te Dio La Vida, La Vida Sin Amor, Una Noche, Amor Venme A Buscar, Musica and Somewhere.

So mark the date in your calendars. Il Divo performs at the PICC Plenary Hall on Jan. 20, 2007. You can get two VIP tickets to the concert plus a Nokia N73 if you will sign up for a Smart Infinity Plan 5000. You can also get an exclusive 10 percent discount when you use your Citibank credit card to purchase Il Divo tickets through TicketWorld. For details and inquiries about Il Divo Live in Manila, you may call Concertus at 817-2431 or 813-2617.

If you have a music lover in your Christmas list who happens to be very special you might consider Il Divo’s The Christmas Collection and Siempre as gifts. Feeling extra generous? Throw in the Smart Infinity 500 Plan and two tickets to the Il Divo concert. That would be extremely fabulous.

Basil at The Podium

Meanwhile, here is news from the local music scene about an album that should also be in your Christmas list. Basil Valdez will be at The Podium at Ortigas Center at 6 p.m. on Dec. 15 to perform songs from his new album The Filipino Classics. Featuring the San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra with music arranged and conducted by Ryan Cayabyab, the album is made up of some of the best Filipino songs ever written. Among those that Basil will do at the Podium are Sapagka’t Kami ay Tao Lamang, Bayan Ko, Bituing Marikit, Madaling Araw and Diyos Lamang ang Nakakaalam.

Still on Basil and his new album. Those of you who might have to miss The Podium show can still catch Basil’s mall tour for The Filipino Classics at The Block at 6 p.m. on Dec. 22 and at SM Clark in Pampanga on Dec. 23.