There is something about listening to beautiful music that soothes and calms our nerves.
Tonight, we watched
The Philippine Madrigal Singers perform at the Copernicus Theater in Chicago, Illinois. The concert was a fund raising activity by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Chicago (UPAAGC) for scholars in the Philippines.
The Madz as they are called is the country's top chorale group, having won in numerous international competitions. They have also been honored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as artists for Peace in July 2009 and were given the Guidoneum Award in Sept. 2010 by the Concorso Polifonico Guido d'Arezzo Foundation for the "artistic and choral promotion activitiy."
Their repertoire included pieces from the renaissance music, classical songs, traditional Filipino songs to contemporary and pop. Oh, their voices were angelic; each voice blended with the another.
It was fun that they added comic twist to their performance - it made the audience appreciate the versatility and quality of their singing.
I love all their songs but being far from the Philippines, I loved their medley of patriotic songs "Isang Bansang Mapayapa" (A Peaceful Country). They had encore (4 wonderful songs) because the audience just couldn't get enough of them.
They were gracious to allow the audience to have a photo taken with all of them during which I met one of The Madz' singers who was my sisters choirmate.
The group will continue with their Great American Tour until October so if you get the chance to see them in your area, do so. You won't regret it.
