Lea Salonga brings her storied musical theater life to Hong Kong’s MusicalCon

January 16 ------ Hong Kong’s (HK) newest musical theater initiative, MusicalCon, opened in grand style with “The Magic of Musicals,” a concert that celebrated the genre’s past, present, and future, led by none other than Tony and Olivier Award winner Lea Salonga, alongside the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.

The evening began at precisely 7:45 p.m., with the orchestra under the baton of Gerard Salonga, who previously served as assistant conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra before relocating to Kuala Lumpur, where he now holds the position of resident conductor for the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. In a brief but heartfelt address, Gerard reminisced about his years in Hong Kong, particularly recalling fond memories of working with the orchestra that clearly still feels like home to him.

An overture woven from Lea’s storied musical theater repertoire opened the night — rich, sweeping, and masterfully conducted — setting an immediate tone of prestige and nostalgia. Almost as quickly as he exited, Gerard returned, this time with Lea, who was greeted by thunderous applause and cheers from the sold-out Xiqu Centre.

She opened fittingly with Pure Imagination (from “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”), followed by A Million Dreams (“The Greatest Showman”). The audience response was so electric that Lea herself broke into a giggle. “I’ve been in this city many, many times,” she said warmly, “and the audience here is the best. I hope you’ll continue to prove that till the end!” A challenge the crowd more than gladly accepted. She followed with a lovingly curated Rodgers & Hammerstein medley, delivering the songs In My Own Little Corner (from “Cinderella”), A Cockeyed Optimist (“South Pacific”), and If I Loved You (“Carousel”).

Another musical Lea starred in was “Sweeney Todd,” and what a treat it was that we heard her sing By the Sea, complete with a cockney accent. That song number took a special turn when Hong Kong Film Academy awardee Crisel Consunji joined her onstage, delivering a haunting The Movie in My Mind as Gigi, beautifully complementing Lea’s iconic role of Kim in “Miss Saigon.” Disney’s Roy Rolloda then entered for a tender duet on Solo Saxophone, sung with ease and intimacy. Lea continued with her signature Disney classics, Reflection and A Whole New World with Roy.

A delightful surprise followed — Journey to the Past from “Anastasia” (1997), originally performed by Liz Callaway — before a sweeping Disney Princess Medley closed the first half of the show. After what felt like the quickest 15-minute intermission, Gerard returned for a second orchestral overture of Broadway favorites. Lea re-entered with infectious energy, launching into Something’s Coming from “West Side Story.”

Always one to stay current, she followed with For Forever from “Dear Evan Hansen,” then moved seamlessly into the haunting It’s Quiet Uptown from “Hamilton.” She then spoke about her long relationship with “Les Misérables” — noting, to the laughter and awe of the audience, that she has portrayed both Fantine and Éponine, two characters who meet tragic ends. She further reminded the attendees that On My Own was her audition piece for “Miss Saigon,” before delivering a stirring I Dreamed a Dream.

Another highlight came when Lea reunited with Crisel for a deeply moving rendition of For Good from “Wicked,” their voices blending with warmth and sincerity. Lea then brought the house down with a powerhouse Defying Gravity, followed immediately by an electrifying Everything’s Coming Up Roses from “Gypsy,” proving yet again her command of character-driven performance.

As she announced her “final” song, the audience roared, prompting Lea to laugh knowingly.

“You all know that every time I say it’s the last song... it’s not really the last song.” With that, she and Roy returned for a lush Elephant Love Medley from “Moulin Rouge.” The cheers continued, and the night culminated in a jubilant encore: I Wanna Dance with Somebody from “The Bodyguard.” By then, the Xiqu Centre had transformed into one giant dance floor, with audiences on every level standing, clapping, and dancing.

Earlier backstage, I had asked Lea how she manages such an intense schedule — coming off her “Solaire New Year Countdown” with Raymond Lauchengco, an outdoor HK Disneyland performance the night before, two sold-out “The Magic of Musicals” concerts in Kowloon, and now preparing for “Les Misérables” concerts as Madame Thénardier for GMG Productions in Manila. She simply smiled as she gave her honest reply, “Yeah… that’s my life.”

Source: philstar.com