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Lea Salonga was already a star in her native Philippines when she was cast as Kim, the Vietnamese heroine in London’s original West End production of “Miss Saigon” in 1989. Two years later, she was made her Broadway debut as Kim, won a Tony Award and made her international star status.
Salonga became the first Asian actor to play French heroines Eponine and Fantine in “Les Miserables”, provided the singing voices of Disney Princesses Jasmine and Fa Mulan in the animated feature films “Aladdin” and “Mulan”, respectively, and appeared opposite George Takei in the 2015 Broadway production of “Allegiance.”
She also has a long list of credits as a television and film actress, recording artist, musical theater star, and concert headliner.
Salonga, 51, drew enthusiastic crowds when she performed at the Blaisdell Concert Hall in 2004 and 2008. She opens a two-night engagement at the Blaisdell Concert Hall on Friday.
Welcome back – finally – it’s been a long time.
Yes. We were supposed to start the Hawaii tour in 2020 in early April, but we all know what happened. So we’re finishing up in Hawaii and we’ll find something fun to do afterwards. I’m going to stay dry this whole tour, so when we finish in Honolulu, I’m going to grab a drink.
How do you make a set list when you have over 40 years of music to choose from? Can Hawaii expect something similar to your recent “live” albums – 2019’s “The Story of My Life” and 2020’s “Live in Concert with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra”?
There are physical limitations, of course. This is a two hour program including a 20 minute intermission. We allow ourselves the luxury of being able to choose things that might be new to the public. We do musical theatre. We do contemporary things. We do older things. And we do some things that fit in with the show, but not in a way that people expect.
In 2017, you recorded “Bahaghari: Lea Salonga Sings Traditional Songs of the Philippines” and sang in five regional languages of the Philippines as well as Tagalog. Is there a renewed interest in recording in regional languages?
I’m not the right person to ask about renewed interest, but I know that more of this composition is encouraged. It’s great that all these languages are featured in current songwriting. There are some similarities, if you know what to listen to, but they are so different from each other that some of them were hard for me to sing, but I’m hoping for a lot more (in other Filipino languages ). Many musicians come together to continue.
Tell me about your experience of being one of 10 “World Famous Filipinos” celebrated in a series of Philippine postage stamps last November.
It was so exciting. I remember living in the United States and seeing Elvis Presley being immortalized on a stamp, so when the postmaster general told me they were going to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first postage in the Philippines with 10 stamps representing famous Filipino sportsmen or designers or artists — and they wanted me to! “I’m like, ‘Oh my God, this is a big deal!’ My friends were all so excited.
I read that you sang for all the presidents of the Philippines, from Ferdinand Marcos to Noynoy Aquino. Did President Duterte make the list?
Yes he has. I think it was for a state visit. I was invited (to sing), so the list is now President Aquino, both son and mother (Corazon Aquino); President Marcos; President Ramos; President Estrada; President Arroyo; and President Duterte.
Is there still something fun on your to-do list?
I’ve never sung a theme song for a video game. I love to play video games. I don’t know how many Final Fantasy series I’ve played, and I’ve never sung the game song for a video game. I think that would be great fun.
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Contact John Berger at [email protected].