Libera was in Cebu

I attended the Libera concert in Cebu last October 28, 2011 exactly two years after I attended my very first Libera concert in the exact same venue. Surreal. They've improved a lot since their last visit. I simply loved how they setup the stage this time around. There was no screen in the middle of the stage, but there were two large screens at both sides that showed some closeups and panning shots of the choristers during the performance. At the back of the choristers were a string quartet, recorder and keyboard, and percussions. The last time they were here they only had Fiona Pears playing the violin at the side. Also, this time around, I can name majority of the group (all of those that went here in 2009 and some new faces), which made the experience even better.

My favorite song in the concert, if I could only pick one, will have to be "Eternal Light" with a perfect solo by Stefan Leadbeater. He is older now at the concert compared to the one in the Peace CD used in the video below and his voice is even better than the one in the CD. And the soaring harmonies is so uplifting. I thought this is what chorale music should be. To brighten up your day. Stefan is clearly at the peak of his treble career so hopefully Mr. Prizeman will be able to compose some more songs for him and Libera for future CDs.



My second favorite will have to be their special Libera arrangement of a popular Pinoy Christmas song, "Himig ng Pasko". The solo was done by Ralph Skan. Ralph has a different kind of voice that suits this song quite well. Mr. Prizeman, their musical director, knows the voices that his group have very well and assigns them the perfect part of the song for each. I could only imagine what it would have been like if he was our musical director back in high school when I was a member of our school choir. With that kind of training, I probably would have a singing career by now. :)



These two, Stefan and Ralph, were new touring members of Libera (not all of them tour) when they first came here two years and now they practically carry the group. I already have a copy of their Christmas album and looking forward to own a cd that contains their version of "Himig ng Pasko" in the future.

Libera to launch Christmas album in the Philippines

The London based boy's choir, Libera, is set to launch their newest CD (Libera: The Christmas Album) with two concerts in the Philippines later this month.

MANILA
Concert: October 25, 2011. 8:00 pm. PICC Plenary Hall
Autograph Signing: October 23, 2011. 4:00 pm. The Block, SM North EDSA

CEBU
Concert: October 28, 2011. 8:00 pm. Waterfront Cebu Pacific Grand Ballroom
Autograph Signing: October 27, 2011. 5:00 pm. The Northwing, SM Cebu

For ticket information, head on over to the following sites:
TicketWorld
Arts Council of Cebu
Libera Official Website

Meanwhile, Libera: The Christmas Album is already available nationwide in the Philippines since September 30, 2011. Buy the album now and be among the first to hear the songs live this October in the Philippines. You can preview the album tracks below.



Advance Merry Christmas to all!

Libera has landed

Libera is back in the Philippines after only six months from their previous concerts. The 23 choristers from the chart-topping choirband from South London has just arrived in Manila after their successful concerts in Japan (April 8 & 9) and South Korea (April 11) and will promote their new album Peace. 21 from last year's tour are back with 2 new touring members. Tom Cully, one of the most recognizable choristers of the recent group of touring members and was here last year, is conspicuously absent this year. Tom is the album soloist of the 3rd track (Ave Virgo) of their latest album, Peace.

Libera will hold a Meet and Greet event at The Podium on April 14, 2010 at 5:00PM. And on Friday, April 16, 2010, the group will perform two promotional shows showcasing songs from Peace, at 3:00PM and 8:00PM at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium at 4/L RCBC Plaza, Makati City. Click here for ticket information. 

The following are the 23 performing Libera members attending the Manila events:

Henry Barrington
Jonathan Barrington
Tiarnan Branson
Luke Collins (new touring member)
Liam Connery
Kavana Crossley
Jakob de Menezes-Wood
Daniel Fontannaz
Frederick Ingles
Stefan Leadbeater
Alexander Leggett
Samuel Leggett
Joshua Madine
Flynn Marks
James Mordaunt
Samuel Moriarty
Cassius O'Connell-White (new touring member)
Benedict Philipp
Matthew Rangel-Alvares
Carlos Rodriguez Villegas
Ralph Skan
Alfredo Smart
James Threadgill

The 23 performers will be supported by, among others, former Libera choristers who are now part of the staff and crew:
Robert Prizeman - conductor and musical director
Ben Crawley - composer and stage manager
Steven Geraghty - keyboard/other instruments
Sam Coates - sound engineer

Fiona Pears (violin) and Ian Tilley (composer/keyboard), co-composers of the 2nd track (Time) of the Peace CD, won't be joining the current tour due to prior commitments. The group is set to perform their version of Bayan Ko in the Philippine top-rated pre-noontime variety show, Showtime. Click here for more information on this TV guesting.

Photo courtesy of Libera 360, Uniting Libera fans worldwide.

It's Showtime with Libera

Updated 4/13/2010: Now includes the song they are going to perform.

Banner courtesy of Libera 360, Uniting Libera fans worldwide.

The not-for-profit, chart-topping choirband Libera from South London will appear as guest in Showtime, Philippine's top-rated pre-noon time variety show broadcast over ABS-CBN nationwide and through its sister-channel TFC (The Filipino Channel) worldwide on April 14, 2010. No details on what segment or time the choirband will appear, but Showtime starts at 10:30 AM local time (UTC/GMT+8). The choirband will perform their version of Bayan Ko, which brought the house down in Manila and Cebu during the encore performance at their October 2009 concerts.



Libera is back in the Philippines to promote their latest album, Peace, released locally by EMI-PolyEast Records and internationally by EMI Classics on March 8, 2010. Peace was released in the USA on April 6, 2010.

The 23 members of the group are fresh from their successful concerts in Japan (April 8 and 9, 2010) and South Korea (April 11, 2010). They were in the Philippines last year with two highly successful concerts in Manila (October 25, 2010) and Cebu (October 28, 2010). And after barely six months, they're back. All 23 choristers are set to appear on Showtime.

Later on the same day, April 14, at around 5:00PM Libera will be at The Podium for a Meet And Greet event. Buy their latest album, Peace, onsite for a chance to meet the famous choirband.

And on Friday, April 16, Libera will perform two showcase performances to promote their album Peace. One show is on 3:00PM and the other at 8:00PM. Both shows will be held at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, 4/L RCBC Plaza, Makati. Click here for ticket information. All events are dubbed as part of Libera Peace: The Philippine Summer Promo Tour 2010 brought to us by Philippine Airlines and EMI-PolyEast Records.

Do not stand at my grave and weep

This is one of the most beautiful and meaningful, yet simple, Easter song I've ever heard. It deals with the very essence of Easter and the resurrection of Christ in the most simple and subtle way. Of course, for those who don't know who Christ is the words would just fly by. But even then it's a very beautiful song. The words were based on a poem written by Mary Elizabeth Frye. The beautifully haunting music was written by Robert Prizeman specifically for his choirband, Libera, originally published in 2004 in the album Free. Different music that used the same poem do exist prior to Libera's version, but of all the versions of this song that I've listened to in Youtube, Mr. Prizeman's music stood out as the best.

Happy Easter, everyone. (The original poem can be read below the embedded video.)



The original poem by Mary Elizabeth Frye:

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.

Libera Peace Philippine Summer Tour (April 2010)

After two successful concerts in Manila and Cebu in October 2009, Libera, the chart-topping choir band from London will be back in the Philippines to promote their new album, Peace. You'll be hard-pressed to find another group that sounds like them. So don't miss this chance to once again see and hear them perform live.

Key Dates

April 14, 2010 - 5:00PM - Meet and Greet at The Podium
April 16, 2010 - 3:00PM - Libera Peace Promo Show (Matinee)
April 16, 2010 - 8:00PM - Libera Peace Promo Show (Gala)

The two promotional shows on April 16 will be held at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, 4/L RCBC Plaza, Makati City.

Tickets

Meet and Greet - Buy the new album Peace on-site for a pass to meet and greet the choristers.

Libera Peace Promo Shows

Orchestra at PHP850, Loge at PHP650, and Balcony at PHP500.

Tickets can be bought on a cash basis only by calling any of these numbers: 999-436-4275, 906-370-3129, or 918-918-1367.

Or you can go directly to Carte Blanche, 5/F AIM Conference Center Manila Bldg., Benavidez cor. Trasierra Sts., Legaspi Village, Makati City and look for Suzy Mejia or Joel Andaya.

Links

Theater Layout (c/o Libera360)
Seat Availability - Matinee Show (c/o Libera360)
Seat Availability - Evening Show (c/o Libera360)

Libera Official Website
Libera On Facebook
Libera On Twitter
Libera Official YouTube Channel