Kuh, Music & Magic in ‘V’ show repeat

MANILA, Philippines - Kuh Ledesma (photo) is set to travel down memory lane again when she headlines the repeat of her very successful Valentine concert, billed The Music of the Heart,  The Magic of Love on March 7, 8 p.m. at the grand ballroom of Solaire Resort & Casino.

The concert will feature Kuh with her Music & Magic bandmates, including originals Jet Montelibano, Fe delos Reyes, Eva Caparas, Toto Gentica, Hector Pedero, Butch Elizalde and Nonoy Mendoza and second-generation members Bobby Taylo, Vicky Sevilla-Pangilinan and Jeannette Casuga-Trevias. 

The group performed its first concert in October last year, and then reunited at the Music Museum for a Valentine’s Day show last February. Despite stiff competition from other Valentine shows around the metro, the concert did impressively well, with Kuh and her former bandmates bringing the house down with their show-stopping performances, simple but classy choreography and fabulous outfits.

Kuh kicked off the evening with her version of classic songs When I Fall in Love, The Nearness of You and All the Things You Are and then segued into her biggest OPM hit, Till I Met You. She was later joined by her bandmates, who gave a rousing rendition of the songs the band was known for during its heyday, such as If My Friends Could See Me Now, How Deep is Your Love, I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch), I’ll Be There, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, Sweet Inspiration and the Broadway hit Don’t Cry For Me Argentina.

Kuh also proved why she’s still a diva after more than 30 years in the music business. She sang even contemporary pop hits flawlessly. She performed current radio favorites like John Legend’s All of Me which prompted the following comment from a fan: “It was such an amazing feeling hearing her sing it her way. Her very soulful and honest rendition gave us goosebumps all over. Kuh outdid herself in this number!”

During the Solaire show, Kuh and the Music & Magic were joined by classical singer Jack Salud, who brought a different touch to the evening’s musical offerings. A singer and visual artist, Jack is an Aliw Award nominee for Best Male Classical Performer 2014. He studied classical singing under UP Prof. Emmanuel. He also underwent vocal training under New York-based international opera soprano Evelyn Mandac. Jack then turned to the stage, where he built up an impressive resumé of performances in productions of Little Women, Taming of the Shrew, Man of La Mancha, I Love My Wife, The Emperor’s New Clothes and Zorba with Repertory Philippines.

But even in a pop setting, Jack’s classically-trained voice stood out as he shared the stage with Kuh. Together, they performed duets of The Prayer, Ikaw and Endless Love. He also had his own singular moment in the show, when he performed the operatic song, Nessum Dorma from the opera Turandot and originally performed by the late operatic great Luciano Pavarotti.

(For ticket inquires and other details, call 531-0688 or 0917-813-9065 or 62.)