Breathless: A Big Band Evening with Raymond Lauchengco

Premier balladeer Raymond Lauchengco performs in ‘Breathless’, a special one-night concert at the Teatrino on Thursday, July 9, at 8:30 in the evening. The special guest for the concert is the beautiful and talented Ms. Tin Arnaldo.

Accompanied by an eight-piece band featuring a live blowing section under the musical direction of Jun Austria, Raymond will be performing big band standards, Broadway love songs, pop classics and his 80s big band hits such as ‘Just Got Lucky’ and ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-go’ from his latest album, ‘Full Circle’.

Raymond began as a theater performer at the age of 12 but shot to fame as one of the lead stars of the Pinoy film classic, Bagets, and having sung the movie’s love theme ‘So It’s You’ established himself as one of the country’s most soulful balladeers. Having shed off his teeny-bopper, matinee-idol image, Raymond re-emerged as a sensitive and engaging performer, garnering an Aliw Award in 2006 for his performance in the concert series ‘The Best of Us’, with Ayen Laurel. Raymond has since focused his repertoire on standards, Broadway hits and big band music because of its classic and universal appeal.

Tickets are available at Php 1,500 each. For inquiries, please contact Teatrino at 721-0635 or 0917-3700395.

  

I’m having an exhibit!

This is my first photo exhibit in a while so I’m quite nervous.  It would help a lot if you could drop by!

See you at The Block this Saturday

The Full Circle album tour goes to The Block at SM North Edsa. Show starts at exactly 5pm.

See you there!

Aliw Awards 2007

Congratulations to Ayen Munji-Laurel who won the Aliw Award for Best Concert Performance (Collaboration) for “The Best of Us”.

Can you guess who won the award with her?

Photo taken by Franco Laurel.

Shows this August

I’ll be performing at the Casino Filipino Angeles on Sunday, August 19. Hope to see you there!

And for those of you Down Under, I’ll be in Darwin on August 25 for the 2007 Barrio Fiesta.

Come and spend Valentine’s Day with me!

It’s going to be two fun and romantic nights with an 8-piece band (that includes a trombone, trumpets, and sax) under MD Vic Oria!

My lovely guests are my sister Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo and dear friend Ayen Munji-Laurel.

Tickets at Php 1,500 each, available at Ticketworld (891-9999) or Teatrino (721-0635/721-2762).

Free delivery within Metro Manila for a minimum of 2 tickets, please text 0917-5334206.

See you there!

Raymond Lauchengco in Classic Romance 2: Walking On Sunshine

By Oliver Oliveros

Photo by Patrick Martires

Premier balladeer Raymond Lauchengco brings back the soundtrack of an old world romance in his Valentine concert dubbed “Classic Romance 2″ at Teatrino, Greenhills Shopping Complex on Feb. 13 and 14.

A sequel of sorts to Raymond’s highly successful Valentine’s show held last year, “Classic Romance 2″ features a more varied repertoire highlighted by a big band sound. As in last year’s show, Raymond’s sister, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo and good friend Ayen Munji-Laurel will be his special guests.

“I am definitely an old-fashioned guy. I’ve always wanted to bring back the era where love is communicated without the aid of text messaging or electronic greeting cards,” says Raymond.

“Classic Romance 2″ features an 8-piece band complete with live blowing and rhythm sections under musical director Vic Oria. The concert will showcase musical genres that have a genuine affinity to Raymond—standards, Spanish songs, and Broadway love songs. “This the music I’ve grown to love through the years. The first time I sang standards in a live concert, I felt right at home—they speak of a gentler, more elegant era, when songs were simply romantic. In Broadway pieces one can find a whole romantic narrative,” Raymond says.

Raymond also will be singing the hits that defined him as a singer in the 80s (‘So It’s You, I Need You Back’, ‘Farewell’, ‘Shadow of Time’, ‘Saan Darating ang Umaga’), but perhaps for the very last time. “The concert marks a turning point for me, where my audience and I can bid farewell to the songs that were very good to me and say hello to who I’ve become as a performer.”

This means that the Teatrino audience will be treated to the ‘new’ Raymond via a special sneak preview of his soon-to-be released album of iconic 80s songs (such as ‘Just Got Lucky’, ‘Together In Electric Dreams’, ‘Walking on Sunshine’) interpreted with a big band sound.

With “Classic Romance 2″ staged at a relatively small venue like Teatrino, Raymond promises a warmer and a more intimate evening. “I’d like for each member of the audience to feel like I am singing solely for them. I really believe that music is strong and potent enough to go straight to the heart.”

For tickets, please call Ticketworld at 891-9999 or Teatrino at 721-6726 or 721-0635. For sponsorship inquiries, please contact 0917-5334206.Tickets are at Php 1,500 each.

Classic Romance 2: Walking On Sunshine is made possible by Hush Puppies, Yellow Door Gallery, PLDT myDSL, Coppertone, Propaganda, and Imacron Digital Video.

Clothing sponsors are JC Buendia for Raymond Lauchengco and Ivar Aseron for Ayen Munji-Laurel.