22 September 2012

opera and oven mitts

I am so very grateful that a lot of international artists are bringing their shows to the Philippines. I am particularly happy that a lot of broadway productions have made their way to local stages. This enabled me to quickly scratch of an item in my bucketlist ("Have a night in Broadway") when I got the chance to watch Mamma Mia just a few months ago.

This week, I got to scratch it off again. About a few weeks ago, a college friend asked us if we wanted tickets for The Phantom of the Opera (Manila), because she could get some through her company for half the price. My theater buddies were up for it, and being the kaladkarin that I am, I decided to join in on the fun. Truth be told, I had little idea what the show was about. I knew that it was about a very talented composer who had a physical deformity who fell in love with the theater's singer. I wasn't even familiar with the songs.

We had tickets for the September 20 show and little by little, the excitement grew within me more, since I didn't know what to expect. Finally, the night of the show came and I met up with my friends and proceeded to CCP. The events that happened once we stepped into the theater is a blur in my mind. I was blown away. Perhaps because it was the first time I encountered the story,I was so moved. Or maybe it was because of how the Phantom sang his songs. I cry. I have no other words. It was  magnificent, emotional, engaging, simply beautiful. I particularly loved "Point of no Return" and "The Music of the Night". Not only are the lyrics beautiful, but the Phantom sang it with such emotion.

Pardon the very poor quality, this was all my phone could do.