We all have our favorite movie soundtracks, but it's fascinating how some tunes from stage musicals adapted into films can stay with us, even if we're not very familiar with them.
Now, imagine hearing these memorable songs from movie musicals alongside iconic film soundtracks, all performed live on stage.
That’s exactly what you’ll experience at The Greatest Duets: Special Screening on August 30, 2024, at Cinema 11, Cineplex 18, Araneta City, Cubao, Quezon City.
Bringing these timeless tunes to life are award-winning singers and real-life couple Lara Maigue and Gian Magdangal.
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) recently caught up with Lara and Gian at FIVE Private Dining in Greenhills, San Juan City, where they shared their excitement for the upcoming concert and why the audience should be just as thrilled.
The Greatest Duets with a unique twist
The Greatest Duets: Special Screening is an offshoot of Lara and Gian's The Greatest Duets: Goes Broadway seen in 2023.
The first installment saw Lara and Gian perform beloved Broadway songs at Teatrino Promenade in Greenhills, San Juan.
It was Gian who thought of the concept of The Greatest Duets, with the couple deciding to focus first on singing theater songs.
After all, Lara and Gian have an affinity for stage musicals including classical music.
However, both are versatile artists whose repertoire extends well beyond theater materials and classics.
And that's exactly the idea behind The Greatest Duets: to showcase Lara and Gian's versatility while letting them enjoy performing songs that they personally love.
It was clear from the get-go that Lara and Gian envisioned The Greatest Duets to be a series and not a one-off project.
Lara said, "Parang sabi namin yung maraming possibilities like The Greatest Duets Goes OPM, The Greatest Duets Goes to the USA, parang ganun. It can be a venue, or it can be a destination or a theme."
Director Paolo Bustamante thought of incorporating movie soundtracks as a concept for the second run.
"The theme is parang movie themes naman — galing sa movies, greatest duets galing sa movies," mentioned Gian.
"Pero, meron din parang touch of where we started, from musicals. Kasi ang dami rin movie musicals. Like for example, Phantom of the Opera or The Greatest Showman.
"And that's where we picked it up from. Siyempre, pinili din namin yung mga [kanta] sa tingin namin na babagay sa main."
Memorable soundtracks
For The Greatest Duets: Special Screening, Lara and Gian will be performing songs from movie musicals like Moulin Rouge, West Side Story, Les Miserables, and popular movie soundtracks like songs from Despicable Me, Evergreen, and Dirty Dancing, among many others.
Read: Rachelle Ann Go back to Les Miserables show after giving birth
"Most of it [are] our personal favorites. 'Tsaka yung something that's closer to our vocals. Pero alam mo yun, maraming mga kanta na, 'Kailangan nandiyan 'to kasi sikat yung movie na 'to,'" shared Lara.
A CONCERT INSIDE A MOVIEHOUSE
What could be more fitting than singing movie soundtracks in a cinema?
Naturally, performing live music in a movie theater presents a unique challenge due to the surrounding acoustics.
Fortunately, the Cineplex is designed not only for film screenings but also to accommodate live performances, making it the perfect venue to host The Greatest Duets: Special Screening.
Gian said, "Pero kami yata yung, in a way, magki-kick off nung for it to also be a concert venue."
The venue is considerably big, but being a cinema, it offers an intimate atmosphere that both audiences and performers will appreciate.
In keeping with the theme, the audience can enjoy snacks during the concert, just as they would while watching a movie.
Beamed Gian, "Puwede kang magdala ng popcorn, pwede kang magdala ng drinks. So, right off the bat, parang we feel it's a unique experience right away.
"There's a lot of new things for you to experience in that venue, the location, and the show itself."
Lara and Gian's stage chemistry
Worth seeing of course are the performers themselves: Lara and Gian.
The two have been working together for quite some time, and their comfort with each other benefits their performances.
Individually, the two excel in their craft as artists.
Lara, who is also a songwriter, is known for being a soprano and has been performing both here in the Philippines and abroad.
She is also an internet hit after a video of her singing Mozart's "Queen of the Night" in a private event went viral, with 30 million views as of to date.
Lara is also seen in the Sunday musical variety show, ASAP Natin 'to.
Read: Get to know Lara Maigue, chosen to sing "Lupang Hinirang" at SONA 2023
On the other hand, Gian has made a name as a performer here at home and internationally, including residency at Disneyland Hong Kong and Universal Studios in Japan.
He's been seen in the musicals West Side Story, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Rent, Carousel, Katy, Ang Huling El Bimbo, and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.
Read: REVIEW: Applause for I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change
Television viewers have also seen Gian in the shows Viral Scandal, The Iron Heart, and FPJ's Ang Probinsyano, to mention a few.
Read: Ang Probinsyano controversies
Lara and Gian’s individual talents complement each other perfectly, and their duets, both in studio recordings and live performances, are a testament to that.
Read: How Lara and Gian deal with "tampuhan" during performances
"It's just easier to understand each other. Kahit tinginan lang kami. Parang ang daling makatrabaho nung taong kilalang-kilala mo na," Lara said about working with Gian.
"There's just like a deeper understanding of each other. That's why I think, and I hope, it shows when we perform together."
Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid as special guests
Lara and Gian are not the only real-life couple taking the stage that night.
Joining the two are the husband and wife tandem of OPM icons Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez.
Read:
Regine Velasquez denies Ogie Alcasid divorce rumors
Ogie Alcasid shuts down fake news about his marriage to Regine
Ogie's ATeam (Alcasid Total Entertainment and Artist Management) is producing the concert, so he thought, why not join in on the fun and bring Regine along to perform as well?
It is a dream come true for Lara and Gian to have Regine and Ogie as guests for the concert.
Lara and Gian have worked with Ogie before, so inviting the renowned singer-songwriter—whom Lara described as "very generous" with his time—to guest at The Greatest Duets: Special Screening was no problem.
However, asking Regine was a different story, as Lara recounted.
"I was so shy to ask her. Kinapalan ko na yung mukha ko and she said. 'You know what, if I'm here, sige,'" Lara recalled of her conversation with Regine during a casual get-together with mutual friends and colleagues at a restaurant.
Lara added, "And we found out that there's this other group who wanted to get her on August 30 for their anniversary, but they [Ogie and Regine] already reserved August 30 for us.
"So for Regine and Ogie to commit to us is the biggest thing for me and Gian."
Tickets to The Greatest Duets: Special Screening are available at Ticketnet or at ATeam, contact 0927 656 1261.