A Beautiful Night with Jose Mari Chan

MANILA, Philippines - He wants to propose before he leaves on a trip. She is pre-occupied with interminable conversations on the telephone. He makes a last attempt, calling her through the telephone. He finally gets through and makes his proposal. She consents and the two join in a romantic duet over the phone.

This is not a scene from a TV ad of a phone company, nor a lifestyle reality show, but a one-act opera buffa or comic opera.

Titled The Telephone, the operatic comedy by American composer Gian Carlo Menotti, will be the highlight of a concert titled Bella Notte (A Beautiful Night) featuring soprano Elaine Lim Lee, with Mr. Songwriter Jose Mari Chan as guest.

Produced by Lee herself, the musical will be held on April 4, 8 p.m. at the Philam Life Theatre, UN Ave., Manila with Bantay Kalikasan as beneficiary.

Chan said the show is a unique blend of musical genres, and an exciting collaboration of top artists that include classical musicians John Ocampos and Miguel Castro.

Lee will also render well-loved excerpts from Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro and Magic Flute, and Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.

Acclaimed by critics as a new star in the Philippine opera world, she recently performed Fruhlingstimmen (Voice of Spring) by J. Strauss’ with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra under Maestro Ruggero Barbieri at the Strauss Music in Vienna/Kabuki at the RCBC Theatre, and the Philippine Opera Company’s production of Puccini’s La Boheme.

For details, call 724-8242 or 0922-9941196.