Luck turns in favor of Filipino Tenors

MANILA, Philippines - Actually, it’s one semi classical-pop song at a time.

This writer noticed the International Baptist Church-Manila’s small size and unusual location for practice of five-piece male singing group the Filipino Tenors. They aim to make semi classical-pop music appealing and digestible to both new and veteran listeners of the genre once they become part of the mainstream music scene.

And once the Filipino Tenors — Miguel Castro, Christian Nagaño, Johann Enriquez, David Ezra Cruz and Jenmar de Asis  — become part of that scene, they will destroy, according to Johann, the stereotype of the genre meant for the elderly and sung by the elderly who dons funeral clothes and sports a long beard similar to Pavarotti. Good thing the group was bounded by the same interests in making something to listen to worthwhile. Johann has won various voice competitions such as the Golden Voice, the Western Visayas PRISAA and the 2006 NOPSSCEA and participated in major concerts and events like the Madzitawanan National Tour of the Philippine Madrigal Singers and the CCP RUBIES40th Anniversary Launching Gala.

But it was all luck, according to Miguel. Good thing that luck turned out in favor of the Filipino Tenors as everyone was so eager and dedicated in dishing out their best for their craft. And lucky for them, the Gantimpala theater actor added, “everyone could take criticisms and no one’s immature” while pointing out some difficult to get along personalities in the world of music. Artists and singers who have high ego or could not accept any form of criticism and correction are not the types of artists the group would want to associate themselves with. They are an impediment and an obstacle to their rise.

There’s one thing which gives them a hard time in their advancement: The overpopulated world of pop music fanatics and one-hit wonders. They could simply change their genre from classical to pop or any genre they wish — whatever suits them right or gives them fast popularity. But they do not want to because of their love for classical music, something which they would like to promote and let everyone hear.

According to David and Christian, music nowadays is too noisy and painful to the ears. Their genre, they added, is different and soothing. It could calm a baby still in the womb which is scientifically proven; a different take from the usual, making it ideal for those who want to appreciate a deeper side of music. David is a graduating voice major from the Conservatory of Music of the University of Santo Tomas while Christian is a graduate of the same university and conservatory, obtaining a major in voice and a minor in piano. Both are excellent soloists, dramatists and theater actors inside and outside the university.

While Miguel was playing the group’s latest performance on his iPad, Voci Celesti, an Opera Gala: Uniting Four Cities Through Music, he added to the thought that the popularity of musicians nowadays after releasing a hit-single would rarely exceed a year.

What makes the group such a unique one is their evaluation after their performance. Did one’s voice fit the others? Was one’s entry too early? They would have a roundtable discussion, however, laid-back but one could still sense the apparent aura of talent and seriousness each time they would assess their performance. After their assessment, they would immediately apply their corrections to their craft for their next performance.

Some do take up the road we’re on and try their best to perform classical music, said Miguel, but concede after because they either do not progress as a classical group or change to a genre which is more popular and easier to make popular.

What pushes the group in their quest for popularity and recognition is their passion and a strong sense of urgency, practicing and meeting thrice a week for them to get some buzz and momentum going. They’re also doing this so that they may be able to push through and release their first album, which the group sees as their opportunity to further themselves in the industry.

Despite the hardships and criticisms they have experienced, they could still manage to fool around, either joking another’s mistake — not hitting a note or shifting from one key to a much lower key while exuding such a face which could tick off the one being joked and make happy the entire room. Everyone in the group is a part of family which, for them, is their equation for success and their possible brew for a concoction which could bring them to greater heights.

And success for them is a long-term goal. “We have to work on it,” said Miguel — “until the very end.”

(Note: The Filipino Tenors Finally in Concert will be staged on Saturday, April 20, at Teatrino Greenhills Promenade, San Juan City.)