Madz and the other choral groups in Latina Americana

Starting last Saturday, Nov. 19 and then up to Sunday, Dec. 11, the world-renowned Philippine Madrigal Singers will play host to over 50 Filipino choral groups at the Philamlife Auditorium at United Nations Avenue in Latina Americana: The Madz Et Al Latin American Festival. There will be eight concerts that will be held for four consecutive weekends in the series.

The famous Madz do not perform in the event. This is the annual play it forward time for the Madz, who just had another excellent year which includes a hugely-successful six-month tour of the North and South Americas and Canada. Among the highlights of the trip was when the Madz became the first Filipino artists to sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at the famous Mormon Cathedral in Utah with over a thousand pipes.

There was also the acclaimed performance at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, which is ranked as one of the best theaters in the world. They also did the Philippines proud when they participated in the ninth World Symposium of Choral Music, a gathering of the best choirs from all over the world, held at the Puerto Madryn in Argentina. 

That is the reason why the choral fest is called Latina America. The Madz derived inspiration from their experience performing in Argentina, Uruguay and other Latin American countries. This ignited interest in the Filipino-Latin connection and brought the idea that the Madz Et Al showcase for homegrown choral talent this year will feature choral works from Latin America.

The choirs performing in Madz Et Al this year are the: LPU Harmonic Choir, PUP Bagong Himig Serenata, Vox Angeli, Kilyawan Boys Choir/Voces Aurorae, CIC Chorale of Cabanatuan City and AUP Ambassadors on Nov. 19; the Ars Cantica Ensemble, The Tale Children’s Choir, St. John Mary Vianney Chorale, Philippine Male Singers, Maryknoll Sanctuary Choir of Baguio City, Coro de Sta. Cecilia and NPC Chorale, Nov. 20.

The St. Scholastica’s College Manila HS Glee Club, Lighter Side Movement, Anima Christie Chorale, Woodrose Chorale, Musiko and the UPLB Chorale Ensemble, Nov. 26; the Virlanie Children’s Choir, Shrine of Jesus Children’s Choir, POEA Chorale, Pag-ibig Fund Chorale, Pfizer Chorale, Kilyawan Male Choir and the Ateneo de Manila College Glee Club, Nov. 27.

The PNP Chorale, CNSM (College of Nursing and Midwifery) Choir, NAMEI Glee Club, Trinity University of Asia Chorale, Coro de San Sebastian and University of the East Chorale, Dec. 3; The Miriam College High School Liturgical Choir, Singles for Christ Chorale Manila, Caltex Chorale, AUP Celestial Echoes, Koro Ilustrado, NGCP Chorale and University of Visayas Chorale, Dec. 4.

The Coro Sogno, Koro Techniuv, De La Salle University Dasmariñas Chorale, TIP Chorale, Pansol Choir and Novo Concertante Manila, Dec. 10; and the Afterglow Singers, Imus Institute Pitch Choir, Magsaysay Chorale, Our Lady of the Pillar Cathedral Choir, The Our Lady of Fatima University Chorale, Arellano Law Singers and the BCS/STC Carmelite Choirs, Dec. 11.

I am sure that it is from out of this line-up that we will find the choirs who will bring honor to the country in the future pretty much like the way the Madz have been doing for decades now. Music lovers should go and watch. A ticket costs only P300. That is really cheap for an evening that guarantees beautiful music.

As for the Philippine Madrigal Singers, the group will have its annual homecoming concert at the Abelardo Hall of the University of the Philippines College of Music on Nov. 24, 6:30 p.m. This is a sentimental journey of sorts. Titled Ang Muling Pagbabalik ng Madz sa Abelardo, the show marks the choir’s return to the UP campus where Madz was born.

It was there at the UP in 1963 when the future National Artist Andrea Veneracion gathered music students to put a choir together that would sing the old-time madrigals from the Renaissance Period. The Madz’s early performances happened at the Abelardo Hall. Look at how far they have come. Muling Pagbabalik will feature songs from the recent tour and I suppose also lots of numbers from Latin America.