Lea Salonga joins The Tabernacle Choir’s Christmas concert in Utah

Lea Salonga was a nightingale during The Tabernacle Choir’s Christmas concert in Salt Lake City, Utah, giving life to Christmas songs like “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

“It’s something I missed because it had been a while since we were able to gather that many people in one space to be able to be in communion with live music and performances,” the Broadway Diva said in Howie Severino's special report.

She also used the occasion to showcase “Payapang Daigdig,” a Filipino classic by Felipe de Leon, who wrote the song after he witnessed the destruction of World War II.

When she learned that a Christmas song from the Philippines could be included in the set list, Lea immediately got in touch with her brother and musical director Gerard Salonga, who said "Payapang Daigdig would be a wonderful addition to that."  

“The decision is squarely on Gerard's shoulders. I can’t really claim credit for it. I could claim credit for singing it," she said.

According to Lea, it was "actually the very first time I ever sang it.”

Delighted to have Lea, The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square’s music director Mack Wilberg regarded her as a “remarkable musician.”

The Tabernacle Choir holds Christmas concerts every year, and this is their first with a live audience since the pandemic.

Among those in the audiences were Filipinos including Kapuso couple Megan Young and Mikael Daez. — LA, GMA Integrated News