The incomparable Cocoy/A fete, free concerts

In Cocoy Laurel’s Valentine concert at the Teatrino, each song sounded different, distinctive — and special. Fusing his singing, acting and dancing skills together, Cocoy elevated the popular song to its highest standard of performance, thus fascinating the audience.

Drawing from his wide cultural background, Cocoy sang in English (mostly Broadway classics), Italian, French (La Vie en Rose), Spanish (La Historia de Un Amor and Love Story in Spanish) and Tagalog. (Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak and Iisa Lang), clarity of diction adding immeasurably to one’s listening pleasure.

Cocoy prefaced each selection with endearing words to the audience — appropriately enough for Valentine — and when he whispered “I love you” to a woman listener, she instantly replied, “I love you,” too!”

The program was family-oriented: Cocoy dedicated “The Way You Look Tonight” to his mother Celia Diaz Laurel, saying, “How beautiful she looks!” Further, Iwi Laurel, Denise Sanz Laurel and Nicole Laurel Asensio — Cocoy’s sister and nieces — provided enticing interludes with charm, their finely focused voices belting out end notes long and powerfully.

Nevertheless, none of them stole the show from Cocoy whose charisma, singing prowess and dramatic, arresting expressiveness were irresistible.

The Manila Philharmonic Orchestra under the versatile Rodel Colmenar contributed rich tonal hues. A saxophone player at one time admirably accompanied Cocoy; Colmenar on the electric piano, while alternately conducting, considerably enhanced the concert.

Cocoy’s creativity, imagination, keen musicianship and unfailing sense of drama made the concert progressively compelling to keep audience interest alive throughout. After the devastatingly zestful “New York, New York” (the final number), one might have assumed Cocoy’s vocal arsenal depleted. But the encore “The Impossible Dream” thundered while, by contrast, the second encore “Lollipops and Roses” (first sung with Nora Aunor) caressed its appeal gentle, delicate, soothing. Listeners were ecstatic, and at show’s end, the youngsters shrieked in nearly hysterical delight.

I once described Cocoy as a “total performer”. These days, he is even more “total”. He’s’ incomparable!

Bamboo organ festival

The 34th Bamboo Organ Festival in Las Piñas opens Feb. 19 at 8 p.m. with Haydn’s “Organ Mass in E Flat Major” and Mendelssohn’s “Motets, Nos. 1, 2 and 3”, these to be rendered by the Las Piñas Boys Choir. Other artists: Austrian organist Christian Iwan and soprano Franziska Hammer-Drexel, counter tenor Mark Anthony Carpio, tenor Erwin Lumauag, baritone Eudence Palaruan, organist Alejandro Consolacion II, and the Festival Choir under Armando Salarza.

On Feb. 21, “Concert under the Trees” will feature the rock band — Rivermaya.

Feb. 22 will be an evening of organ music with Christian Iwan.

On Feb. 24, RP-Korean Friendshp Night will feature Baroque organ solo music plus pieces for voice. Artists are Korean organist Yang Hee-yun, baritone Seong Kyu Lim. The AILM Chorale will be under Joshibiah de Juan.

Feb. 25, “Pagpupugay” will feature works by Kasilag and San Pedro. Composer-organist Alejandro Consolacion II will premiere his “Filipiniana Two”, a suite for organ and oboe, with oboeist Franz Ramirez. Ensembles will be the UE Chorale and the Celso Espejo Rondalla.

On Feb. 27, “Lauda” will consist of Haydn”s Laudate Pueri and organ concertos, and Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate. Soloists are organist Johann Trummer, soprano Drexler, organist Consolacion, the UE Chorale and the Festival Orchestra under Palaruan.

Free jazz, classic concerts

On Feb. 21, from 6 to 10 p.m., Romy Posadas and his rock band will perform with Eddie Katindig and Arthur Manuntag at Jaime Velasquez Park, Salcedo Village.

On Feb. 22 at 6:30 p.m. the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra under Maestro Oscar Yatco will render classics at the Multipurpose Hall, Solar St., Bel-Air III.