A touch of class
A REVIEW
Music Cum Fashion treated its Sydney audience to a Filipino touch of class, a soft blend of musical concert and fashion parade the likes of which we seldom see and often wish more Filipino community “entrepreneurs” would emulate.
The sensuous and stylish Ms Mendez...
It was vintage Mars Cavestany, the artistic director who conceived and stage-managed the one-hour performance July 2 at the posh City Tattersalls Club in Sydney’s central business and entertainment district.
A refreshing experience to watch Chantelle...
Chantuese Marilyn Mendez, piano maestro Jesse Banez, support vocalist Chantelle, and the fashion creations of couturier Claudio Javellana were a tantalising package
In true show-biz style, the Filipinas Petals presentation flowed smoothly minus an adlibbing emcee spruiking sponsors and coming community fiestas standing in a clutter of stage props and sound equipment and introducing the odd karaoke busker.
No such baggage here. Music Cum Fashion was pure entertainment.
Ms Mendez’s performance as a sensuous singer and stylish model of Javellana’s stunning gowns reminded us of famous Hollywood actress-singer and fashion icon Marlene Dietrich.
Ms Mendez possessed a faultless voice and a figure to die for, but somehow she maintained almost a lack of facial expression, rarely smiling faintly throughout her performance.
Her repertoire didn’t quite measure up to Ms Mendez’s remarkable musical talent. The highlight came with her rendition of La Vie en Rose, one of Dietrich’s favourites and one in which Ms Mendez introduced some lines in Tagalog to the delight of her mostly Filipino audience.
A singer of Ms Mendez’s calibre and experience, I thought, could have made the songs her own by tweaking their interpretations. Her impressive range could have managed a wider mix of retro and contemporary songs, perhaps divided into identifiable segments across the performance.
The fashion component might have been highlighted better had a voice off-stage described the gowns immediately after the first song of the segment. We were left in awe of the couturier’s designs but begging for details.
Jesse Banez singing and accompanying himself on the piano
The two musical numbers by Mr Banez, who sang and accompanied himself on the piano, were fautless. His breath-taking rendition of I Miss The Hungry Years was especially so emotionally-charged it almost brought the house down.
Chantelle fulfilled her support role with flair. It was a refreshing experience to watch a promising young vocalist perform minus canned backing of a karaoke when a singing voice meets the true test. Chantelle also modelled her gown with pizazz.
I’d give Music Cum Fashion a score of 9 out of 10 for sheer class.
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I love the show and congratulations to Marilyn Mendez, Jesse Banez, Claudio and Chantelle…well done! My appreciation to the talents of Mars Cavestani for directing the show….I truly enjoyed the show…more power to all of you.
Thanks,
Daisy Ann
Surely, it’s one of its kind! I have been at the doors being the gatekeeper for the night and didn’t get the chance to watch fully ; somehow just hearing it from afar, I do agree, Marilyn Mendez and Chantelle had mesmerised the audience with their flawless renditions of Jazz songs and the audience were kept to their seats for the whole time. I was at the general rehearsal, though, prior to the show and that was the first time I had the glimpse of the show, vis-a-vis, Mars as director and Claudio, being the fashion designer would assist on how the gowns could be displayed on Marilyn and Chantelle as the perfect models . Those gowns were truly jaw-dropping and with Mars directing, I can only say, he’s the best director in town who has an eye for perfection, he dit it again! Encore, Dr Mars and Claudio! Perfect show, Music cum Fashion, a touch of class, indeed!