Behind the Scenes: Learn more about the much-anticipated ‘Do You Hear the People Sing?’ concert

Though Markey has had a long-enduring partnership with Boublil and Schönberg, director Eddie Grey is relatively new to the team, having been tapped for the Hollywood Bowl version of Do You Hear the People Sing?

“While we were working on that version, the opportunity came to return to Manila,” says Grey, who played Boq in Wicked’s 2014 international tour in Manila. “I was thrilled to have the chance to return. Like so many others, Les Misérables was how I fell in love with musical theatre, so this is a dream combination,” the director adds.

Although Do You Hear the People Sing?’s history with the Manila theatre scene dates back to 2014, renowned Filipino music conductor Gerard Salonga’s involvement with the project began a little earlier.

“My first involvement with the concert was in 2013, when Do You Hear the People Sing? made its Asian premiere in Shanghai. It had already been going on for a while in the US, with several concerts performed with some amazing American symphony orchestras,” Salonga says. “This concert is really the story of these two artists—Claude-Michel and Alain, and their journey together. Their extraordinary collaboration has lasted more than 50 years, and there is a lot to celebrate.”

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One of the things brought forth by this bond was the Philippines’ affinity with Miss Saigon, another seminal work by Boublil and Schönberg after the hit Les Misérables. Salonga’s sister, Lea, was chosen after the laborious search for an Asian theatre actor with “the voice but with lungs of steel”. 

“One of the things I admire and respect most about Alain and Claude-Michel is their willingness to keep revising the concert so that we celebrate the soloists performing in it, as well as the special connection they share with each country,” says Markey, pertaining to the strong connection between the Philippines and Miss Saigon.

“So we wanted these concerts to celebrate that bond,” the producer says. “In addition, I’ve gathered some of the best singers on the planet to sing these glorious songs. Abigail Adriano and Nigel Huckle are currently enjoying tremendous success in the international tour of Miss Saigon; Bradley Jaden is one of the hottest stars in the West End at the moment, and I’m glad that he found time in his schedule to come back to Manila before he starts Javert in the Arena Spectacular version of Les Misérables. Amy Manford will perform in Manila for the first time, and audiences are in for a treat. She’s wonderful! The icing on the cake is the ten incredible artists from the Philippines who are joining us. It’s going to be quite an event!”

As preparations for the Manila concert are underway, Grey is sure Filipino theatre lovers are in for a treat. “Each time this show is produced, the calibre of performer is truly second-to-none,” he says. “This time, however, you’ll hear some of your favourite songs from the Boublil/Schönberg canon not only reimagined for a concert setting but also with new, lush orchestrations that I’m sure audiences will revel in.”

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Meanwhile, Salonga explains further what audiences should expect, especially for those who have seen it in 2014. “New material and new artists. The orchestrations have also been refreshed, so there is also a new sound to the show. I look forward to meeting and performing with some of them for the first time!” Salonga explains.

Like most Filipinos, Grey was also drawn to different aspects of Boublil and Schönberg’s works at different stages of his life.

“When I was younger, I thought it was the melodies’ sheer beauty. Naturally, that is still part of what inspires me in their repertoire, but now, it is the truths about ourselves that are illuminated through their work; emotions and hubris of operatic proportions reimagined in a way that makes sense in a contemporary setting. The stories they tell, while draped in the finest of music and lyrical turns of phrase, are strong concrete structures of stories, and that’s inspiring to me,” shares Grey.

As one of the most successful partnerships in musical history, Boublil and Schönberg have produced iconic shows like Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, and Martin Guerre, which earned Best Musical in the 1996 Laurence Olivier awards. However, as told to Daniel Rosenthal of The Independent in 1998, their first meeting was nothing grand.

According to their recollection, Boublil was driving across Paris with his car radio tuned to the Europe 1 station sometime in 1968 and heard the pop song, Tou les jours a quatre heures. He wanted to buy the rights to the song as he was, at the time, working for a music publishing company. After being connected by EMI records, he invited Schönberg and found a kindred spirit in him.

They share the experience of pursuing economics degrees, “partly to please our parents, and partly because, although we both knew that we wanted music to be our careers, we didn’t know how or where to start,” says Boublil in the interview.

Eventually, in 1972, a burning passion sparked in the heart of Boublil after seeing Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar. He thought of writing a sung-through musical, operatic in scale and form, and it would be about the French Revolution. He reconnected with Schönberg after hearing his friend’s suggestion to ask him to write the music. And the rest is history.

“As a musician, I appreciate the breadth of styles that they cover, as well as how the musical phrases work so well with the lyrical phrases,” Salonga comments.

“What I’ve found most illuminating is that, even after all their success, these two long-time collaborators are still hard at work,” adds Grey. “Alain and Claude-Michel are still writing and rewriting, putting immense care into every quaver and syllable. Their dedication and partnership remain as strong as ever.”

“At its heart is a deep friendship that has given the world some of the greatest musicals ever written,” says Markey. “This collaboration is celebrated throughout the concert. Audiences will hear all of the songs they know and love, as well as songs from their very first musical together, La Révolution Française, and songs that have been cut from their shows—including Les Misérables. Additionally, a brand-new song will be performed for the first time ever during this concert in Manila,” the producer teases.

For someone who grew up listening to the songs of Boublil and Schönberg, experiencing this spectacular treat is a must. And no matter how big or small the venues are, it all boils down to the timeless songs the two wrote and imparted to the world

“The depth of emotion, the intricate storytelling, and the powerful melodies in the works of Boublil and Schönberg are a testament to their enduring appeal across the world—in so many languages and different cultures,” says Markey. “Their ability to create timeless pieces that resonate with audiences across generations is remarkable. I’m sure that in a hundred years, people will still be performing Les Misérables and Miss Saigon worldwide,” he adds.

“I’m proud to say our concert shines a special light on that collaboration. I’m confident our audiences will walk away with a deeper love and understanding of the work of these two seminal writers,” says Grey.

“When like-minded people come together and bring their strengths to the table, there is no limit to what can be achieved,” says Salonga. “Art is communication. The performances and the music itself will say everything,” he concludes.

Tickets are now available at smtickets.com

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