A maestro, four young performers in Goldenberg Concert

The program In Harmony: A Musical Journey was simple, uncomplicated, straightforward enough: two sopranos, one tenor, one baritone, and one pianist. Then came the impressive repertoire: classical favorites, Broadway hits, film scores, heartwarming kundiman, even popular Filipino pop! It made me pause for a moment. That was undoubtedly quite a mix — no matter how one looks at it. What kind of musical journey could possibly tie all these together?

As it turned out, the answer rested on Raul Sunico, the sole musician who provided brilliant accompaniment with some of his own arrangements. When an acclaimed concert pianist of his deserving grand stature is at the helm, you merely sit back, utterly relax, and allow the journey to take you wherever it wishes — that much I knew.Rose Aquino, Benny Techico, Patricia Yvonne Caunan, Karen Santos and Sherwil Robles.

Sunico, who once served as dean of the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music, has accumulated far too many accolades to enumerate in a single column.

Ironically, while the four singers onstage all graduated from the same institution, none had been his direct student. But still, one could not help but imagine the pride he must have felt to share the stage with fellow Thomasians before a full audience!

The four young voices — Gabriel Ramos, Jasmin Ruth Cañares, John Patrick Joven Packay and Shekinah Audrey Salteras — though early in their promising musical careers, harmoniously came together as a remarkably cohesive ensemble in the halls of the renovated and refurbished grand heritage residence within the Malanañang Palace Complex. This was a project by the First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos’ Goldenberg The Concert Series.

The journey began with Guiseppe Verdi’s exuberant Libiamo ne’ lieti calici before shifting to Gioachino Rossini’s delightfully comic Cat Duet. The singers’ playful meows were so convincing that it gave actual cats a run for their money — just before they shifted to Franz Lehár’s Lippen Schweigen!

Broadway standards included Andrew Lloyd Webber’s memorable “All I Ask of You” from The Phantom of the Opera, Claude-Michel Schönberg’s soulful “Sun and Moon” from Miss Saigon, followed by the timeless “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from the box-office success The Wizard of Oz.

The kundiman included Nicanor Abelardo’s familiar “Bituing Marikit,” Francisco Santiago’s bittersweet “Ano Kaya ang Kapalaran,” and Fulgencio Tolentino’s playful “Makikiliti Ka.”

Pop favorites were TJ Monterde’s yearning “Palagi,” National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab’s hummable “Araw-Gabi,” and Lola Amour’s viral “Raining in Manila.” Nearly every selection was familiar, with the crowd singing along to the choruses.

It must be reiterated: what elevated the evening even further were Sunico’s arrangements. The songs remained ever-so recognizable, as he graciously and generously complimented the brilliant singers’ solo renditions and allowed them to shine during their moments.

The show itself felt like a miniature musical theater production. Elegantly dressed in formal attire, the performers committed fully to every song, expressing each lyric through convincing gestures and emotions, and even playful banter and quips!

Among those in attendance were students from the Alternative Learning System Community Learning Center, Jose Rizal Elementary School, Manila Tytana Colleges, Inc., Global Montessori School of Manila, Inc., President Corazon “Cory” C. Aquino National High School, Pasay City South High School, and San Juan de Dios Educational Foundation, Inc.

The audience’s rousing applause naturally brought the quintet back for an encore. They gladly rendered the triumphant “The Impossible Dream,” which once again made the guests burst into more applause and cheers.

¡Enhorabuena, Gabriel Ramos, Jasmin Ruth Cañares, John Patrick Joven Packay, Shekinah Audrey Salteras, and Raul Sunico!