Josh Groban happy to return to Manila, ‘excited’ to perform with Lea Salonga

Josh Groban —RUBEN V. NEPALES

LOS ANGELES—Josh Groban is happy to be returning to Manila after 11 years, apologizes to his fans that there was such a long gap since his 2007 concert, and he is excited to perform with Lea Salonga for the first time.

In our recent chat at the Warner Bros. Records building, a landmark Late Modern structure of redwood and glass in Burbank, the affable singer reminisced about his first trip to the Philippines and enthusiastically talked about “Josh Groban Bridges Tour Live in Manila” on Feb. 22 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Casually dressed, he sat down on a sofa in a lounge. “I want to give the fans there (in Manila) everything that they’ve been waiting for,” shared the multiplatinum artist, who often broke into his winning smile. He had a warm welcome for Renen and Cel de Guia, whose Ovation Productions is celebrating its 40th year with this show.

Josh will be backed by his five-man band, the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra and the Ateneo Chamber Singers.

His bearded face lit up at the mention of the Philippines’ national treasure, Lea Salonga, who will be his special guest. (Tickets are available at SMtickets.com and regular SM ticket outlets.)

Excerpts from our conversation:

What do you still remember in your first trip and concert in the Philippines in 2007? I remember from the first moment I got off the plane feeling warmth and excitement from the fans. Everybody was so welcoming. I was taken by how open the country is to different styles of music.

It is a country of great musicians, of incredible singers, and so to be some place where you knew that your music had been embraced, and you finally had a chance to thank them for that, was so exciting. We went to restaurants, a club and around the city. I  remember just how kind everybody was.

Are you still surprised when you go to these distant places that people know your name and songs? Yeah, I’m always so surprised.

How different as a person and artist are you from the man who went to Manila 11 years ago? There were certain things where I was very mature … and certain things where I was very immature at that age.

Also, when you’re so young and you have so much that’s thrust upon you, there’s no room for mistakes. I was very nervous back then about slipping up, about doing anything wrong.

Josh Groban

This time, you will be performing with Lea Salonga. Have you seen her in any show? I saw her first perform “Miss Saigon” when I was in high school. I followed her career ever since. I’ve seen her perform in places like the Hollywood Bowl. I’ve run into her at events like the Tonys. She’s always been so kind to me.

Will you have two duets? At least. I’ll also leave it up to Lea as far as what she wants to do (in her solo numbers).

What else do you have in store for your Manila fans this time? It’s safe to say that because it’s been such a long time, I owe it to the fans to perform songs that are older, songs that are newer, and songs that I haven’t done anywhere else.

There are songs that the fans in Manila love that I haven’t done in other shows, like “She’s Out of My Life,” “Broken Vow” and maybe even “The Prayer.”

In all your trips around the world, what has been the most memorable moment, onstage or off? Wow. One that sticks out immediately is my first trip to South Africa. I got to have a private meeting with Nelson Mandela. We sat and had tea for 45 minutes and talked about his foundation. I joined forces with his foundation.

And the funniest moments? Mistakes are always funny. Sometimes, I forget a lyric and sing in gibberish. I burped onstage. I had too much soda before I went on and I let out a big burp in the middle of the song, “Per Te.” [Once] I was walking on top of chairs to get somewhere. I didn’t realize it was a folding chair, so I fell right through the chair. The fans … raised me up.

To perform in a sold-out concert in such an iconic venue as the Madison Square Garden last November, what was that like? It’s an indescribable feeling. In a venue like the Madison Square Garden, you’re already a little nervous. You feel like you  have to bring your A+ game to a venue like that.

But then, New York City fans are always so loving and excited that you’re just riding a roller-coaster of adrenaline and emotions the whole time you’re there.

So, to have been able to capture a night like that on film (“Josh Groban In Concert from Madison Square Garden,” showing in US cinemas on Feb. 12), it was really great for us because I can look back.

Why do you think “You Raise Me Up” continues to move people after all these years? A song like “You Raise Me Up” continues to be such a powerful anthem for people because it’s a beautiful song. But also lyrically, it leaves it open for the listener to put their his or her story into it. It’s about a teacher, family, God.

How did being a product of public arts education inspire you to establish the Find Your Light Foundation? Because it allowed me to be one of the lucky ones. Because I had those experiences and because I had a solid arts education here in Los Angeles (LA County High School for the Arts), I was able to become a well-rounded person, both artistically and otherwise.

It was because of arts education that I got pulled out of my shell. It’s the fact that I then became a happier kid, a happier student.

You get to sing “It’s Now or Never” on NBC’s all-star Elvis Presley tribute. What was that like? Great! I talk about it before I sing the song in the special. I say that Elvis loved classical music, too. He had kind of an operatic-style voice when he wanted to. There was always the swagger to his singing, but he had big pipes. He had a big voice and a song like “It’s Now Or Never” was directly taken from “’O Sole Mio.”

Your Broadway debut was a huge success. Are you planning to return someday? And what are the roles that you want to take on? Oh, I’m dreaming of returning to Broadway, to theater, whether it’s off-Broadway, in the West End, somewhere in LA, maybe. I would love to be a part of one of his (Stephen Sondheim’s) shows one day, “Sweeney Todd” or “Sunday in the Park with George.”

What are your dreams and goals in the next 10 years? I hope to … [make] the foundation bigger and help more kids. I hope to visit Manila at least two or three more times.

Yes, and have some free time to enjoy the beaches. Exactly. Go outside of Manila and explore the great natural beauty of the country because it is extraordinary. And to continue to travel and to find more balance in my life. Keep doing theater. I’d love to, of course, keep recording and touring, maybe write a film score, which is on my bucket list.

 Congratulations to your parents! (They just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.) 5-0. Yep. That’s something I’d like to strive for in the next 10 years. I’d like to start a family at some point in the next 10 years.

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