The music on George Yang’s mind

When the tycoon sings, you know it’s about love for music.

This love for music is what keeps McDonald’s Philippines’ George Yang young. Decades ago, George revolutionized the Filipino taste for hamburgers and fast-food fare when the first McDonald’s opened in Manila.

Aside from making it big in the food business, George also heads several other corporations, including First Georgetown Ventures, Inc., HAVI Food Services (Philippines) and GEC Land Development Corp. He’s also an active officer of the Tower Club and the Philippine Red Cross.

But George doesn’t rest on his laurels. Now that the family businesses are booming with his kids running the show, George has found a new stage to conquer and channel his creative energy.

What used to serve as food to replenish his corporate soul is now what keeps the fast-food magnate and promising tenor going these days. He’s so into singing the classics and opera music — and inspiring hearts along the way — that Universal Records was quick to sign him as a talent.

The product of this interesting partnership is an album titled Always Yang: Timeless Songs by George Yang, a collection of the best classical, opera and Neapolitan music that are close to his heart. In the album, George renders a powerful rendition of O Sole Mio (My Sun), a famous Neapolitan song written in 1898 by Giovani Capurro and Eduardo di Capua. It has been performed and covered by countless artists, including such stalwarts of opera as Enrico Caruso, Mario Lanza, Luciano Pavarotti, as well as rock/pop stars like Bryan Adams and Elvis Presley.

He also gives a passionate performance with Nessun Dorma (None Shall Sleep), the aria from the final act of Turandot, an opera by the great Giacomo Puccini. He also dishes out a romanza titled Una Furtiva Lagrima (A Secret Tear) from the opera L’Elisir D’Amore (The Elixir of Love).

Filipino music lovers will be delighted with what’s probably the most familiar song in the album, Senza Catene, the Italian version of Unchained Melody, which was famously interpreted by Il Divo, a male quartet of classically-trained singers.

Always Yang, the album also features George’s interpretation of Broadway musical hits such as Moon River, Johnny Mercer and All I Ask Of You (a duet with renowned soprano Rachel Gerodias).

With voice coach Gerodias training him, George has now become a much sought-after performer in many corporate and social events. He recently played a cameo in the Philippine zarzuela Something To Crow About much to the delight of the audience. In the said musical, he played the role of Supreme Court Chief Justice.

Proving that he is a force to reckon with in this newfound love, George even got a nomination in the recent Aliw Awards as the Best Male Singer in the Classical Music category. He has also been reaping the fruits of his hard work (he vocalizes and rehearses his pieces almost every day with Gerodias) with praises from the most discriminating ears like Rosalinda Orosa, a music critic and columnist of The Philippine Star.

Classical music has always been close to George’s heart. True to his vision of promoting classical music in the country, he has decided to donate the proceeds of the sale of his album to the Klassikal Music Foundation, an artistic scholarship fund that will provide financial assistance to deserving musicians in their quest to hone their talent. He believes that artists in classical music deserve as much support as artists in other musical genres.

To help him achieve the foundation’s nobler thrusts, George gathered the most prominent luminaries in the field of classical music. Among those who are officers of the board of trustees for the Klassikal Music Foundation are movie mogul Lily Monteverde, University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music Dean Raul Sunico, Rosalinda Orosa and music aficionado Shirley Bangayan. George hopes to see a bright future for the industry and the country as well where people enjoy listening to classical music, which he believes can soothe the heart.

Meanwhile, get a copy of Always Young: Timeless Songs by George Yang in your favorite record stores. And stay young.

George is scheduled to stage a concert at San Beda College tomorrow, Dec. 11, with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in attendance.

Inspirational concert

Sail On… the Revolution Tour III, the variety and inspirational concert that talks about moving on through the grace of God was held last Dec. 8 at SM Bicutan Cinema One. It was hosted by William Thio, Reggie Vinluan and Cameron Dayrit. Those who gave their personal testimonies were Gloria Romero, Hon. Joey Lina and Camerawalls (the new indie-pop band of former Orange & Lemons member Clementine Castro). Other guests were director Maryo J. delos Reyes, DZMM’s Dr. Love, Bella Dimayuga, Elvira Go, Ednah Ledesma, M-Gage and Noemi Saludo of Bahay ng Diyos Foundation. The concert was also staged to promote the album Sail On… His Most Holy Face which won the Best Religious Album in the Catholic Mass Media Awards last year.