Tenor Sal Malaki to topbill benefit concert on Dec. 2

Operatic tenor and philanthropist Sal Malaki will perform on Dec. 2 at the Cebu International Convention Center in North Reclamation Area, Mandaue City.

The two-hour concert, dubbed “Christmas Showers of Grace” is directed by thespian Daisy Baad and animated by Spring Rain Global Consultancy Inc. led by president and CEO Glenda Antonio.

Proceeds of the concert will benefit the Living the Gospel Community for the ongoing construction of a formation center for dysfunctional families in Nazareth, Mantalongon, Barili, Cebu; Liloan Boys Home for the formation of 120 boys aged 1 to 20; and the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters’ indigenous people’s apostolate for the Mamanwas of Surigao and Higaonons of Cagayan de Oro.

Matinee performance will be at 3 p.m. and the gala at 6 p.m.

Malaki, who was born in Leyte and studied at the University of the Philippines’ College of Music, major in Flute and Voice, is the only Filipino member of two prominent ensembles in the US: the Los Angeles Master Chorale and the Los Angeles Opera.

He sang with the Philippine Madrigal Singers in Manila before moving to California in the 1990s.

As one of the most seasoned artists of the Los Angeles Opera Company, Malaki was under the general direction of tenor and conductor Placido Domingo.

Sal has performed in almost 100 opera productions in his 17 consecutive seasons as part of the opera chorus. He has performed solo roles in La Traviata, Madame Butterfly, La Bohème, Luisa Fernanda, Der Rosenkavalier, La Rondine and Fantastic Mr. Fox. With the Los Angeles Master Chorale, now in his 16th season, under the baton of Maestro Grant Gershon, Malaki was the tenor soloist in the world premiere of Jeremy Soule’s L’extase; in Bach’s Christmas Cantata Part I; and in Nielsen’s Hymnus Amoris with Maestro Paul Salamunovich in the latter’s farewell concert as music director of Los Angeles Master Chorale.

In the Philippines, Malaki did a recording of Spoliarium, the operatic composition of Ryan Cayabyab and libretto of Fides Cuyugan-Asensio being the lead role as Juan Luna, telling the story of the hero’s love and life, and the world-class painting Spoliarium. He performed in Cebu last July 30 at the Pilgrim Center of the Basilica del Sto. Niño for six beneficiary groups.

Gala tickets for 6 p.m. are at P2,000 (gold), P1,500 (silver) and P800 (bronze) and the matinee show at 3 p.m. have tickets at P300 and P150. For ticket reservations, contact Raymil Nava at 3470704 or 0915-8886488, 0928-4551866 and 0923-3186800.

The e-mail address is [email protected]. Spring Rain has also a Facebook account in its name.