The Belles are alright
Chances are you may have heard a version of the Imago chart-topper "Sundo" being played on the radio. The difference is that this version sounds higher in pitch, arranged somewhat ethereally, and features a female vocal solo that goes high up into the stratosphere, only to be joined by what seems to be the proverbial choir of angels.
The group behind the rearranged ballad is the Opera Belles.
Formed and trained rigorously by the Philippine Opera Company, the enchanting Belles, which is comprised of Allison Tanner, Lara Maigue, and Jam Valdes, are no doubt a pop group.
But with a classical edge.
"Allison calls it 'Clop,' or 'pop with a classical twist,'" according to group spokesperson Lara in an interview with Yahoo! OMG! Philippines. "Our songs aren't rearranged so much as to sound too classical, as that would be alienating for our crowd."
Their individual musical tastes even reflect it. Lara (yes, of the Maigue family of musicians) started singing at a young age, and is into jazz. Same goes for Allison, who is also the group's resident Rn'B aficionado. Jam, a Repertory Philippines workshop regular, digs Broadway musicals.
There is one thing the Belles have in common.
"We love pop," answers Lara. "We love Taylor Swift, and we tend to sing her songs when we're in the car."
It shows in the group's first single -- a remake of the country ingenue's "Love Story."
Their debut album is in itself an album of remade songs, mostly of their own choosing. It was Sony Music's decision for them to come up with "Sundo" though. Incidentally, Imago's Aia de Leon has yet to see the Opera Belles live, but the group is thrilled at the thought of a future collaboration. They have already collaborated with other seemingly out-of-left-field artists, like Yeng Constantino in one ASAP number on TV.
Classical snobs, these Belles are not. The group obviously revels in their love for pop music, with their ability to reach a wider demographic and yet affecting listeners on a very personal level. But just because they're classical singers doing pop doesn't mean they take their craft for granted.
"The thing with classical training is that if you can sing classical, you can sing anything," clarifies Lara. "Not everyone can do opera or classical, and you can't learn that overnight. In every performance, you have to prepare for it."
The preparation usually involves backstage vocalizations. It would be interesting to just stand outside their dressing rooms and hear them practice their vocal harmonies and their trademark soaring obligatos; you might as well have died and gone to heaven.
The group is aware that it can't please everyone, be them classical purists or pop naysayers. But according to them, they at least want to open the doors for more classical singers to enter the mainstream. "Classical is kind of dying," according to the spokeswoman. "It's hard to market classical in the mainstream, that's why we aim to revive and open the doors. To cross over."
In terms of public recognition, one can say it's starting to work. One time all three Belles tried to discreetly enter a record store to check how record sales were doing, only for the salesladies (and even the security guard) to recognize them right away.
As for the future?
"International, hopefully," cracks Lara. "We wish for more classical signers in the industry. As for the Opera Belles, stay tuned. And be prepared for something different from us soon!"
